From the Archives

One of the more common clichés used about archives are that “Archives are Forever”, yet this statement is simply true. It only takes a crisis such as the one that we are all experiencing at the moment to realise that some things will endure whatever may be happening in the present. The past always provides lessons for those prepared to contemplate what has come before and the health crisis of one hundred years ago is an interesting case study – Camberwell Grammar survived the influenza epidemic of 1919-20 by careful management and patience, delaying the commencement of Term One, 1919, by a month. The boarders had meanwhile taken their long holiday camp at Healesville, but some members were unable to attend as they were isolated because of the influenza – an early example of ‘social distancing’. Cricket matches were restricted to halfday periods to the annoyance of the boys and the First XVIII footballers were forced to compete impeded by the absence of four affected players. Even the Debating Society suffered from the absence of afflicted members. Back at Burke Road the classrooms were permeated by a ‘preventative odour’ issuing from an ‘aweinspiring device’. It is unrecorded how effective these unpopular devices were, but not surprisingly there was a death amongst Old Boys, as William Ethell (Captain of School 1913; Rhodes Ideal winner) died during the epidemic, being recalled as a popular scholar and a notable sportsman. He was twentyfive-years old. However, the 307 boys of the school were able to face 1920 with confidence, the influenza epidemic seeming relatively minor when compared to the recent crisis of the Great War. It is hoped that we too may also endure through this current pandemic in the manner of our ancestors.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my role as the school Historian and

Archivist is receiving messages from

Old Boys scattered across the world and from other persons without direct experience of the school but who are nevertheless interested in the history of Camberwell Grammar. One such contact recently came from Queenslander

Mr Matthew Bryant, a bibliophile 18

The poetical works of Lord Byron were a persistent subject for Presentation Volumes such as this one presented to John Stewart in 1902. The Archives has records of similar volumes presented to boys as late as the 1930s.

who came across and purchased a Camberwell Grammar presentation volume from a Brisbane bookshop. The book (pictured) was a first edition of the poetry of Lord Byron and it was presented by Principal [sic] Alfred Hall to J.P. Stewart, proxime accessit of Class V, Christmas 1902. Mr Bryant sought further information about the recipient of this fine leather-bound volume – I was able to tell him that John Peacock Stewart was born on 25 November 1886 and as a resident of Oak Street, Balwyn, he travelled to the Burke Road campus for the two school years of 1901-02. John had been a student of Camberwell College, the private school run by Camberwell Old Boy Walter Murdoch in the Fermanagh Road, Prospect Hill, premises formerly used by Hall’s school from 1891 until 1897. In 1901, Camberwell College was one of the smaller institutions absorbed by Camberwell Grammar, 21 of Murdoch’s students transferring to the St John’s church hall. Unfortunately, we have no further record of J.P. Stewart’s postschool life. Hopefully he survived both the Great War (in which he did not serve) and the Spanish influenza epidemic intact and was able to enjoy the invigorating poetry of Lord Byron at leisure with pleasant memories of his old school.

Rupert Barber’s skill at writing is evident from these two examples from 1911, as is the focus that the School of that period placed on English history.

I have mentioned in previous articles just how valuable Old Boy school reports are as primary sources when researching the history of the School. Julie Hill of Inverell, NSW, has recently donated material to the Archives relating to her grandfather Rupert Barber, who attended Camberwell Grammar on Burke Road, 1910-13. The material includes his school reports for those years where he was described by Headmaster Alfred Hall as ‘a good, careful student’ although ‘rather weak’ in Maths. Rupert studied Spelling and Dictation, Grammar, History, Geography, Arithmetic, French and Writing, which was his strongest subject. His Writing assessments were consistently described as ”Passed Well”, adding his name to the school’s ‘Honour List’, which the Principal preferred to restrict to boys who achieved overall rather than those who specialised in specific subjects. His meticulous writing (pictured) is of great interest in itself, but also due to the subject matter which reflected the great attention that was paid at that time to the history of the Old Country.

Dr David Bird

Archivist and School Historian

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