OUR SCHOOL ANTHEM AND SONGS – A SHORT HISTORY

Nola and Ross Squire, School Archivists

Recently, our Archivists researched the history of the School Anthem, School Song, Serva Fidem, and the Queen’s song, The Crimson, the Blue and the Gold. If you have further information or insights to share, they are very welcome!

The School Anthem

When the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools amalgamated to form Ballarat and Queen’s Grammar School in 1973, (‘Anglican’ was added to the name of the School in 1975), it was decided that Serva Fidem would continue as the School Song, so preserving something from the Boys’ School. The new Co-educational School adopted the motto of the Girls’ School, Honores Laborem Sequuntur, Honour follows Work, so preserving that from the Girls’ School.

In February 2005, Reverend Peter Treloar, then the newly appointed School Chaplain, attended his first School Assembly. As always, the School Song, “Serva Fidem”, was sung.

Father Pete, a talented musician and hymn writer, felt the School needed a song or anthem more closely aligned with the vision of the then Headmaster, Mr Stephen Higgs, and Mr Higgs was keen for the School to have an Anthem suitable for use on ceremonial occasions.

Whilst watching the Rugby World Cup on television, most likely in 2007 when France was the host country, Father Pete heard the crowd singing, “belting out” the anthem World in Union which was first heard at the 1991 Rugby World Cup, after composer and lyricist Charlie Skarbek was commissioned to produce an anthem that encapsulated the spirit and values of the game. The melody used is known as Thaxted – it is taken from the central section of Jupiter, a movement from Gustav Holst’s orchestral suite The Planets, composed in 1917.

But the melody is probably best known from the patriotic hymn I Vow to Thee My Country, created in 1921, when Holst adapted his music to fit the words of a poem by Sir Cecil Spring Rice, a British diplomat. It was first sung at St Paul’s Girls’ School in Hammersmith, London, where Holst taught, and where it later became the official school hymn. Now, it is most strongly associated with Remembrance Day, being performed at services across the UK and the rest of the Commonwealth.

Father Pete immediately felt inspired. He recalls that, having decided on that splendid music for the anthem, “the words just flowed”.

We are members of one family who sing the Grammar song

We rejoice in our diversity, and all of us belong

We’re supported by strong friendships and collegiality

As we learn to be the people God fashioned us to be

And we celebrate the worth of all the lessons yet to learn

For there’s more of value in each one than we have yet discerned.

Two great schools from former centuries, both proud of what had been, Have combined to form one entity as Ballarat and Queen’s:

“Lord our God, through all the changes that the years may bring”, they sang, “Guard thou the School held safe beneath thine overshadowing”.

Then the mitre and the millrind met as one at Wendouree

Where we strive to keep the faith of old, and glimpse what yet might be.

So, the spirit of connectedness will bind us into one

With all those who’ve gone before us, with all those yet to come

And with those who share our journey, our friends in present days

Whose lives are marked by service, by hopefulness and praise

Who with joy are yet discovering the truth of faith’s bold theme: There is more of value in each one than ever we had dreamed.

The School Anthem has been in use since 2008. When the Anthem is sung, the first and last verses are always used. Additional verses are sung on appropriate occasions, such as this second verse above, sung on Founders’ Day. If you consider the words, you will see that Ballarat and Queen’s Anglican Grammar School’s Christian ethos and our Values - Integrity, Aspiration, Courage, Compassion, Responsibility and Hope - are all embedded in the Anthem. Thank you, Father Pete, for these inspired words.

Scan here to hear the song as it is usually sung at the Leavers’ Eucharist. This recording is from the Leavers’ Eucharist in December 2020.

The School Song

Serva Fidem - Keep the Faith; Keep your Word; Be Loyal

In 1911, Bishop Green was responsible for the motto and crest for the Boys’ School, also called The School Coat of Arms. Serva Fidem was the Latin motto chosen: it means Keep the Faith.

At the time of amalgamation in 1973, now fifty years ago, it was decided that the official School badge and crest would be that which was formerly used by Queen’s Church of England Girls’ Grammar School and the emblem that would appear on all School Uniforms would be the Bishop’s Mitre. This had been the emblem for both the previous schools.

The Boys’ School Coat of Arms/Crest continues as the Dart House badge, and was the Macpherson House badge for many years. In 1998, the Lion of St Mark became our new emblem. The mitre remains as part of the School Crest, sitting right at the top.

Our School Song incorporates the motto and is known as Serva Fidem. The song was written for the Boys’ School, the Church of England Grammar School, in 1928, when Mr E.V. Butler was the Headmaster, and royal blue was added to the original school colours of brown and gold. Mr Lance Fallow, M.A. wrote the words and the music was composed by Rev. Canon Alfred Wheeler of All Saints’ Church, Geelong.

SCHOOL SONG “SERVA FIDEM”

The Mitre and the Mill-rind

Are met by Wendouree

The heav’nly Creed, the homely deed Together still should be.

Chorus:

Sure and steadfast, Spite of scathe, Serva Fidem

Keep the Faith

Where once earth’s gold was gathered

And now the golden fleece, Each golden thought by wisdom wrought Let these the more increase.

Chorus

And keeping comes by winning

He holds who first has won:

No careless hand may join the band

That hears the glad “Well done”

Chorus

So to the end though never

The end our eyes discern, Be for our School this shining rule: He lives who still can learn.

Chorus

Some of the words are unusual, especially ‘mitre’ and ‘millrind’. Both the mitre and the millrind are depicted in the Coat of Arms of the Diocese of Ballarat, shown above. Bishop Green incorporated them into the Boys’ School Coat of Arms/Crest in 1911; they continue to be seen in our Crest.

The mitre is the traditional, ceremonial headdress of bishops. In its modern form in Western Christianity, the mitre is a tall folding cap, consisting of two similar parts (the front and back) rising to a peak and sewn together at the sides. Two short lappets always hang down from the back.

A millrind is an iron support, usually four-armed or cross-shaped, for the upper stone in a pair of millstones in an old flour mill. Kernels of wheat were ground between the two stones. The grinding removed bran (the outer husk) from the wheat kernel, and then crushed the inner kernel into flour. As a symbol for school life, it stands for “work”, hard grind, willingness to make the best effort possible in studies, sport and all activities.

Here follows some further definition of the perhaps unfamiliar words in Serva Fidem.

“Are met by Wendouree” – this refers to the Church (mitre) establishing a school near Lake Wendouree where hard work will be expected by all students.

“The heavenly creed” is a statement of the basic beliefs of our religious faith: a set of guiding principles or beliefs; our Values.

“The homely deed” a simple action that is performed intentionally or consciously, something good and helpful that someone does, showing friendliness, generosity and kindness.

“Spite of scathe” – despite/no matter what happens, we will keep the faith.

“Where once earth’s gold was gathered” is a reference to the rich gold mining history of Ballarat and district.

“And now the golden fleece” is a reference to the wealth that has been generated by wool production, especially the wool of merino flocks in this area.