F E AT U R E
At TSS Retirement Is Not Really Goodbye A
fter a 35-year tenure at The Southport School, 2020 marked the end of an era with the retirement of Mr John Wallace. During his lengthy career at the School, Mr Wallace made a significant impact not only to the School but to many students who were influenced by his passion for education. This beloved teacher found out that you don’t really retire from a school such as TSS. This year John has been back nearly every day either substituting for staff or coordinating his fantastic Speech Variety Club… and of course officiating the Tug ‘o’ War Cluster. In this edition of Band of Brothers, we pay tribute to an amazing teacher, colleague and friend.
Mr Wallace’s first eight years at TSS was in the Prep School as a predominantly Year 7 teacher. At that time, Mr Peter Rogers was Master In Charge of TSS Prep. John speaks highly of Mr Roger’s leadership and as an educator of boys. During his time in the Prep School he was Director of Swimming and a CIC Rugby coach. He also ran the Sharks Swimming Club. In his time in the Prep School he was heavily involved in the Southport Surf Lifesaving Club being Club Captain in 1987-88. Mr Wallace was happy to begin his teaching profession as a primary school teacher because it was here that he learnt the foundational years of a child’ learning. It helped his understanding of boys and their educational development when he entered the Senior School in 1992.
Mr Wallace was born in Tasmania and completed his post graduate teacher training at the University of Tasmania in 1974. After teaching for two years in Tasmania, he decided to take some time off and moved to explore the Australian continent. In Western Australia Mr Wallace applied for a teaching position at Scotch College in Perth and was successful. For eight years he taught in the upper primary area and was heavily involved in co-curricular activities: swimming, cricket, rugby and surf lifesaving. It was in WA that he developed a passion for Surf Lifesaving, taking many senior positions in the North Cottesloe Club. A major highlight was in 1983 when he was asked to be an escort to Prince Charles and Lady Diana on their first Royal Tour of Australia after their wedding. Prince Charles was very fond of Australia’s surf and beaches. When Mr Wallace represented his club at the Australian Surf Lifesaving Titles at Kurrawa in 1984 he enjoyed his time on the Gold Coast and thought that it would not be a bad place to live. In late 1984 a position was advertised in the Australian newspaper for the TSS Preparatory School which he applied for and thankfully was successful in his application. During his time at Scotch College, Mr Wallace worked with Mr Greg Wain as a Resident Master in Keys House. Little did he know that their paths would cross 20 years later.
In 1992 Mr Wallace was chosen as Morse Housemaster and Director of TSS Swimming. Morse House was the day boy House for Year 8 boys. For 10 years he filled this position and realised its significance as a boy’s platform to education in TSS. As Director of Swimming he remembers well the wonderful times he had with men of the calibre of Mr Ian Browne, Mr Stephen Eardley, Mr David King-Christopher, Mr Phil Ward, Mr Jason Cooper and Mr Alex Baumann. Mr Wallace also ran summer Swim Schools for TSS and St Hilda’s students and their families. During his time in Morse House he met and married his wife Rosie and his daughters Katie and Sophie were born. Many TSS day boys appreciated the care and attention they received in Morse House. He always said that Morse House was only successful if by the end of the year the boys were keen to leave and join their brothers in the Senior Houses.
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Band of Brothers
After 10 years in Morse House Mr Wallace applied and accepted the position of Biddle Housemaster in 2002 following the vacancy left by Mr Michael Halpin. For eight years he held his position as Housemaster of Biddle 2002-2009 and as Director of Boarding 2006-2009. During his time as Biddle Housemaster, Mr Wallace strengthened the number of country boys in Biddle and TSS by every year venturing out west with his family
