Newcastle Boys' High School

Newcastle Boys' High School was a government-funded single-sex selective high school, located in Waratah, a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. The school was active between 1929 and 1976, after which time it became a co-educational non-selective school.

Newcastle Boys' High School
Address
Turton Road, Waratah Newcastle , New South Wales , 2298 Australia
Coordinates	32°54′23.9″S 151°43′38.5″E
Information
Type	Public, selective, single-sex, secondary, day school
Motto	Latin: Remis Velisque (With Oars and Sails i.e. with all one's might)
Established	1929 at Newcastle East 1934 at Waratah
Status	Closed
Closed	December 1976
Years offered	7–12
Gender	Boys
Campus type	Urban
Houses	Hannell   Hunter   Shortland   Smith
Colour(s)	Red and Blue
Song	Remis Velisque
Communities served	Lower Hunter Region
House names[1]
Entrance to the original building in 2007. The school is now known as Callaghan College Waratah Technology Campus.

History

Newcastle Boys High School was established in 1929 when the Hill High School was split into two selective single-sex schools, the other being Newcastle Girls High School. Hill High School's campus was located on Newcastle Hill, at a site now occupied by Newcastle East Public School, and was referred to as "the School on the Hill". Newcastle Girls High School moved to a new campus in Hamilton, and Newcastle Boys High School moved to a new campus in Waratah[2] in 1934, at which time Hill High School became Newcastle Junior Boys High School. Both Newcastle Boys and Newcastle Girls high schools carried on the traditions established by the original school, including use of the same motto and school colours.

Newcastle Boys High School became non-selective and co-educational in 1977 and changed its name to Waratah High School that same year.[3] Later it became Waratah Technology High School, and then Waratah Technology Campus of Callaghan College in 2000.

Headmasters

The Headmasters of Newcastle Boys High School were:[4][5]

• 1930–31 Robert Frederick Harvey
• 1932–34 Charles Herbert Christmas
• 1935–44 Norman Ross Mearns
• 1945–47 William Pillans
• 1948–63 Frank Harold Beard
• 1964–74 Leonard Thomas Richardson
• 1975–76 Victor Huish Webber (relieving)

School song

Newcastle Boys High School continued to sing the Newcastle High School song: words by a member of staff, R. G. Henderson MA set to the tune of "D'ye ken John Peel?", chosen by competition announced in 1913 in the school journal, "Novocastrian".[6] When the boys moved to the plain at the Waratah site, they no longer climbed up The Hill and the first verse was re-written in 1943 by Mr Hodge.[7]

1913 version

1943 version

D'ye ken the school on the hill so high, Bravely facing the winds and the sky, While the waves sing their song to the beaches high, As the bell goes for school in the morning. Chorus: Yes, when we are gone in the years far ahead, When the last game's played and the last lesson said, The name of the school will awaken from the dead The memories of many a morning. Serving straight in a hard-fought match Sprinting for the tape or a puzzling catch. The 'blues' from the limit man to the scratch Will still do their best night and morning. (Chorus) Remis Velisque's the motto for all And our hearts once again will still hear its call, When the muscles are stiff that once toed the ball, Or climbed up the hill in the morning. (Chorus)

Smith House boys, here's a song for you, Hunter and Hannell and Shortland too, Sing it as our fathers sang it, loud and true, As they climbed up the hill in the morning. Chorus: Yes, when we are gone in the years far ahead, When the last game's played and the last lesson said, The name of the school will awaken from the dead The memories of many a morning. Serving straight in a hard-fought match Sprinting for the tape or a puzzling catch. The 'blues' from the limit man to the scratch Will still do their best night and morning. (Chorus) Remis Velisque's the motto for all And our hearts once again will still hear its call, When the muscles are stiff that once toed the ball, Or climbed up the hill in the morning. (Chorus)

Science scholarships

The following Newcastle Boys' High School students won scholarships to the Professor Harry Messel International Science School:[8]

Year	Schoolboy
1962	Malcolm James Williams
1964	Peter Gordon Browne
1965	Ian Donald Henderson
1966	Grahame John Edgar
1967	Michael Duncan Daffey
1968	David Ian Cocking
1969	David Bruce Williams
1969	Graeme John Williams
1971	Danny James Llewellyn
1971	Ian Allen Watson
1973	Richard Kleeman
1973	Stephen Bruce Ticehurst
1974	John Ambler
1974	Dale Kleeman

Extra-curricular activities

The following Newcastle Boys' High School boys were awarded "Blues" by the New South Wales Combined High Schools Sports Association under the system which operated from 1957 to 1980:[9]

Year	Sport	Schoolboy
1960	Tennis	D Kelso
1960	Athletics	P Langley
1961	Tennis	P Marshall
1962	Basketball	D Collins
1962	Soccer	J Smith
1962	Soccer	J Thurlow
1962	Tennis	P Marshall
1963	Cricket	B Gibson
1963	Tennis	W Harrison
1964	Cricket	I Forrester
1964	Tennis	C East
1965	Athletics	P Wright
1967	Baseball	G Gilmour
1967	Rugby League	J Davis
1967	Rugby Union	J Davis
1968	Soccer	R O'Hearn
1969	Cricket	G Gilmour
1970	Rugby League	J Shield
1970	Soccer	G Valentine
1971	Basketball	T Antcliffe
1974	Basketball	G Logan
1974	Sailing	M Long

Notable alumni

• Michael Back – Freehills Brisbane managing partner[10][11][12]
• Reginald Ian Barrett – jurist; Judge, Supreme Court of New South Wales(2001–)[10][13]
• Jonathan Biggins – entertainer, writer[14][15]
• Leigh Blackmore – horror writer, critic, editor, musician[16][17][18]
• Peter Cave – journalist; Current Affairs Foreign Editor, Australian Broadcasting Corporation[19][20]
• Peter Robert Charlton (1946–2007) – journalist, soldier, military historian; editor at The Courier-Mail from 1996[21]
• William T. Cooper AO – artist and ornithologist[10][22][23][24]
• Phil Cousins OAM – community worker, surf life-saver, mines rescue leader; Venerable Order of Saint John (2004), Centenary Medal (2003), named Open Champion (First Aid) Surf Life Saving Australia (1994 and 1997), Gold Medallion NSW Mines Rescue Service (1993)[10][25][26]
• Julian Croft – novelist and poet; Emeritus Professor of English, University of New England[10][27]
• Howard Crozier OAM (1936–) – teacher, education administrator, CSIRO manager, shire councillor, grazier[10][28]
• Roger Dean CBE – Federal Member for Robertson 1949–64, Administrator of the Northern Territory 1964–70, diplomat[29]
• Robert Douglas AO – medical practitioner and academic; Chair, SEE-Change ACT; Emeritus Professor and Visiting Fellow, Australian National University; Chair, Australia 21[10][30]
• Gary Gilmour – Australian cricketer[31]
• Ross Gittins AM – author; economics editor of The Sydney Morning Herald[32][33][34][35]
• Kevan Gosper – international sports administrator; company director[10][36][37]
• John Harding – violinist; Concertmaster, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (2006–)[10][38][39]
• Sam Jones – trade unionist, politician; Labor member of New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Waratah (1965–84)[40]
• Patrick McGorry – psychiatrist, academic, 2010 Australian of the Year
• Jeffrey Miles – author, jurist; Chief Judge, Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory (1985–2002)[11][41]
• Arthur Morris – Australian cricketer[42]
• Peter Morris – Federal Minister; Federal Member for Shortland 1972–98[43]
• Gary Neat – journalist and author; Foreign Correspondent ABC Indochina/SE Asia; CEO of the Queensland Liberal Party; Senate Candidate & Federal Executive; National President – Australian Institute of Management
• Dick Tooth – Australian rugby union footballer, orthopaedic surgeon and sports science pioneer[44]
• Ivan Welsh – politician; Lake Macquarie mayor and member of New South Wales Legislative Assembly (1988–91)[45]

Notable teachers

• Kelver Hartley

References

1. "School Sport Houses". Callaghan College – Waratah Technology Campus. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
2. "NEWCASTLE BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842–1954). NSW. 20 June 1933. p. 4. Retrieved 27 June 2011 – via Trove, National Library of Australia.
3. Barcan, Alan (2007). "Comprehensive Secondary Schools in Australia: a View trom Newcastle, New South Wales" (PDF). Education Research and Perspectives, Vol. 34, No.1, 2007. p. 157. Retrieved 7 November 2014. Newcastle Girls' High and Hunter Girls' High merged in January 1976 as Newcastle High School. A year later Newcastle Boys' High merged with Wickham Girls' High to become Waratah High, while Newcastle Technical High merged with Cooks Hill Girls' High to become Merewether High School.
4. Armitage, Audrey (1983). Newcastle High School : the first 75 years. Hamilton, N.S.W.: 75th Anniversary Committee, Newcastle. pp. 179–180. ISBN 0-9592118-0-2.
5. "Historical". Newcastle Boys High School Old Boys Association. 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
6. Armitage, Audrey (1983). Newcastle High School : the first 75 years. Hamilton, N.S.W.: 75th Anniversary Committee, Newcastle. p. 49. ISBN 0-9592118-0-2.
7. Armitage, Audrey (1983). Newcastle High School : the first 75 years. Hamilton, N.S.W.: 75th Anniversary Committee, Newcastle. p. 149. ISBN 0-9592118-0-2.
8. "Professor Harry Messel International Science School Science Alumni 1962–2007" (PDF). Foundation for Physics. The University of Sydney. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
9. Bill Collins, Max Aitken and Bob Cork, One hundred years of public school sport in New South Wales 1889–1989 (Sydney, ca. 1990, New South Wales Department of School Education, p180ff)
10. "Who's Who Live (Australia)". Crown Content ABN 37 096 393 636. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
11. "Members". Old Boys Association, Newcastle Boys High School. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
12. "Michael Back". Freehills. Our People. Freehills. 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
13. "Swearing in Ceremony of The Honourable Reginald Ian Barrett". Supreme Court of New South Wales. Sydney. 19 March 2001. Archived from the original on 10 April 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
14. Freeman–Greene, Suzy (24 October 2009). ""Bit parts for parents" (interview)". The Age (Melbourne). p. 12. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
15. Kablean, Carrie (5 June 2009). "Jonathan Biggins, actor – defining moments". Wish Magazine (The Australian). Nationwide News Pty Ltd. p. 62. First public acclaim. In Year 12, I was in the debating team that won the State Championships. I went to Newcastle Boys High, and it was all maths, science and sport – to knock cricket off the dais was a big deal. At a special assembly, our victory was received in a lukewarm manner by our fellow students. But it was a veneration after six years of torment and torture at school.
16. Benjamin J. Szumskyj The Terror from Australis: An Interview with Leigh Blackmore. Australian Studies in Weird Fiction 1 (Equilibrium Books, 2008). Available online at:
17. Vodcast of 'Jennifer Byrne Presents episode 'Monsters and Bloodsuckers' (aka ' Vampires, Werewolves and Man-made Monsters in Literature'
18. <Interview with Leigh Blackmore re: AHWA at View from Here magazine:
19. Quinn, Ben (1 July 2006). "The Truth Hurts". Newcastle Herald. Newcastle, New South Wales: John Fairfax Holdings Limited. p. 14.
20. Charlton, Peter (22 August 2003). "Hendo brought vigour and balance to the job (Obituary: Ian Henderson". Courier-Mail. Brisbane, Australia: Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd. p. 18.
21. Eastgate, Ross (24 May 2007). "Author, soldier, friend. (Obituary: Peter Carlton)". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane, Queensland.
22. "Cooper, William T., 1934–". Trove. Catalogue. (database online). National Library of Australia.
23. Walker, Rosanne. "Biographical entry Cooper, William Thomas (1934 – )". Encyclopedia of Australian Science. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
24. Australian Government. "Australian Honours database. COOPER, William Thomas. Officer of the Order of Australia". It's an honour. In recognition of service to art and to ornithology as a natural history artist.
25. Australian Government. "Australian Honours database. COUSINS, Phillip Gilbert. Centenery Medal". It's an honour. For long service to the Hunter and Lake Macquarie communities as a community worker
26. Australian Government. "Australian Honours database. COUSINS, Phillip Gilbert. Medal of the Order of Australia". It's an honour. For service to the community of the Hunter region through a range of first aid, rescue and sporting organisations and the surf lifesaving movement.
27. "Croft, Julian (1941–)". Trove. Catalogue. (database online). National Library of Australia.
28. Australian Government. "Australian Honours database. CROZIER, Howard Clement. Member of the Order of Australia". It's an honour. For service to the credit union movement, to the wool industry, and to the community through participation in rural organisations.
29. "INTRODUCTION TO CANBERRA". The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926–1954). ACT: National Library of Australia. 18 February 1950. p. 4. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
30. Australian Government. "Australian Honours database. DOUGLAS, Robert Matheson. Officer of the Order of Australia". It's an honour. For service to medicine, particularly in the fields of epidemiology, public health research training and development, and the development of preventive measures for acute respiratory disease in children.
31. Watson, Chris. "Home of champions" The Newcastle Herald, 6 June 2006 (Supplement: 100 years of NEWCASTLE HIGH SCHOOL : The Students) p44
32. Ross Gittins (Economics Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald) (8 August 2009). Give My Regrets to Waratah High (Speech). Newcastle Boysc High School Old Boys' Association annual dinner. Newcastle City Hall. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
33. "2009 Alumni Award Winners". Alumni (University of Newcastle, Australia) (3). Newcastle, New South Wales. 2009. p. 4. Mr Gittins completed a Commerce degree at the University of Newcastle in 1970
34. Australian Government. "Australian Honours database. GITTINS, Ross Roderick. Centenary Medal". It's an honour. For service to economic journalism in Australia.
35. Australian Government. "Australian Honours database. GITTINS, Ross Roderick. Member of the Order of Australia". It's an honour. For service to journalism as a commentator on economic theory, policy and behavioural economics, and to the accountancy profession.
36. "Gosper Wins Five C.H.S. Titles". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842–1954). NSW: National Library of Australia. 22 September 1950. p. 10. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
37. Roach, Stewart (15 May 2000). "Gosper's name loses lustre among old boys". The Newcastle Herald. p. 54. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
38. "Citation. John Phillips Harding. (Award of Doctor of Music, honoris causa.)" (PDF). The University of Newcastle. 7 May 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
39. "Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Our People. John Harding". 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
40. "Mr Samuel Barry Jones (1923–1999)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
41. "Speeches by former Chief Justice Miles". Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
42. Chad Watson, "School reunion – Newcastle Boys' High." The Newcastle Herald, 17 August 2002, p 5
43. "Who's Who Live (Australia)". Crown Content ABN 37 096 393 636. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
44. Armitage, Audrey (1983). Newcastle High School : the first 75 years. Hamilton, N.S.W.: 75th Anniversary Committee, Newcastle. ISBN 0-9592118-0-2.
45. "Mr Ivan Joseph Welsh (1940–2007)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 16 June 2019.

External links

• Newcastle Boys High School Old Boys Association