All Saints College, Bathurst

Infobox Secondary school
name = All Saints' College Bathurst

motto = "Deo Auctore Vim Promovemus Insitam"
"With God as our guide, we develop the inner strength"
established = 1873
type = Independent Co-ed Anglican Private School
founder = Canon Thomas Smith
head of college = Ms. Jenny Williams
enrolment = 550
grades = Transition – 12
colours = Red, White and Navy Blue color box|#FF0000color box|#FFFFFFcolor box|#000080
city = Bathurst
state = NSW
country = Australia
website = [http://saints.nsw.edu.au]

All Saints' College is a independent, co-educational Christian college in the Anglican tradition. Located in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia, the college caters for day students from Transition to Year 12 and boarders from Years 7 to 12.

History

In 1873, Canon Thomas Smith (pictured) of All Saints' Cathedral, Bathurst, enthused Bishop Marsden with the idea of opening an Anglican school in the city. The following year, on January 27th, the Bathurst Church of England College opened its doors to seven students under the headmastership of Henry Kemmis. Renamed All Saints' College, the school officially came into being in mid 1875 when it moved to its permanent site on the corner of Piper and Hope Streets after a successful fund raising campaign and the Bishop's donation of land.

In 1888 Mr Edward Bean, the Senior Classics Master of Sydney Grammar, succeeded Henry Kemmis. During the eleven years of his headmastership, the College developed into a very significant and typically independent school. The scholarly Bean produced the badge and motto, designed the uniform, commenced the Bathurstian, introduced the prefect system, cadets, debating, dancing and carpentry, as well as opening a library and the Prep School.

The third Headmaster, the Rev Frederick Tracey, was a great scholar like his predecessor. Under his leadership, the steadily expanding College became one of the ten founding members of the Athletics Association of the Greater Public Schools. In 1893, with a large number of enthusiastic old boys, the Old Bathurstians' Union was started. With their support, Mr Tracey purchased the school from the Church, thus becoming its proprietor, a position he maintained until 1919 when he sold the land and buildings to the NSW Government.

Originally the Assistant Master under Bean and Senior Master under Tracey, the fourth Headmaster, Mr Britten, was a very keen sportsman. His reign at the College saw it become very successful in rugby, football and cricket; several boys going on to play for NSW and Australia. He also persuaded the Old Bathurstians' Union to finance the building of a Chapel which they later moved brick by brick to the College's present location on the then Ophir Road, now Eglinton Road.

In 1911, Mr Britten was succeeded by George Stiles. Both a linguist and an amateur boxing champion at Oxford University, he promoted French and German and brought boxing to significance in the College. With the coming of the war in 1914, enrolments dropped, staff became difficult to obtain and prices soared. Despite all efforts, on June 30 1919, Mr Stiles resigned and the College closed its doors.

Then in 1923, the Headmaster of Monaro Grammar School, Cooma, the Rev Lindsay Watson and one of his staff, Mr Cameron McLeod, sought permission to re-open the College on its present site after purchasing Esrom House and 20 acres of adjoining land. The College grew so rapidly that Watson and McLeod had to purchase the nearby Travellers' Rest Hotel for additional classrooms and lease Walmer House on the river for boarders.

Buildings mushroomed as the College continued to grow. The main oval was built and the OBU brought the Chapel down from the hill.

Finally in 1946, after 24 years at the helm, Lindsay Watson retired and handed the College over to the Rev. Alan Catley. Unfortunately, the Rev Mr Catley was not strong enough to carry the load. Recognising this, he stepped down in 1948, passing the reins over to Mr Ted Evans who guided ASC for fifteen years. Maintaining the momentum of the Watson era, he took the College from a student population of 108 to 315 as well as overseeing an extensive development in facilities.

In 1963, Mr Roy Dent, founding Headmaster of Sydney Grammar Preparatory School, took over from Mr Evans. His stay, though brief, was a busy three years. He oversaw the inauguration of the Avern Award (for meritorious service to the College) and the republication of the history of the College.

1966 was a year of three Headmasters. Mr Roy Dent resigned, Mr Vic Tunbridge of Geelong Grammar took over as acting Headmaster and later in the year, the Council appointed Mr Peter Gebhardt as the tenth Headmaster. During his time, Mr Gebhardt introduced many innovative programmes including Eastern-Western Week (work experience), Outdoor Education and Arts and Artists Week, most of which continue today. He also initiated the building of the H.R. Richardson Memorial Library and Watson College (now Watson Boarding House).

Mr Dan Massey was appointed Headmaster in 1975. He introduced co-education in 1976, and was instrumental in the College amalgamating with Marsden Girls School in 1977. In 1982 the Junior School was reopened under the guidance of Mr Doug Finlay.

Dan Massey resigned at the end of 1983 and Deputy Headmaster, Mr Bruce Clydsdale, took over until Mr Robert Bickerdike was appointed in 1985. Previously Principal of Girton College and Head of Geelong Grammar's Timbertop, Mr Bickerdike led the College forward through eight years of constant development both in buildings and student numbers.

This period also saw a steady growth in Outdoor Education. Believing a liberal education system best prepares students for adult life, Mr Bickerdike was a strong advocate of 'Outdoor Ed', seeing it as a highly effective way of fostering self-reliance and character development.

December 1989 saw the departure of Mr Doug Finlay from the position of Master of the Junior School, a position he held for eight years. He was succeeded by Mr Jock Bidwell in January 1990.

1993 saw the arrival of Dr Timothy Wright from the position of Second Master at Trinity Grammar Sydney. During his time as Headmaster, Dr Wright was responsible for the development of the formal Pastoral Care Structure and its implementation within the College timetable. His vision of ASC as a Christian College in the Anglican tradition inspired and shaped his leadership.

Dr Wright oversaw the development of College facilities such as the building of the Foundation Block and the Evans Block, and the refurbishment of the Science Labs. The second stage of the Junior School Development was also completed during his time. In 1998 the inaugural Transition to School class commenced with a full complement. Dr Wright was appointed to Shore (Sydney Church of England Grammar School) in 2003.

The present Head of College, Jenny Williams, joined All Saints' from Snowy Mountains Grammar at the start of 2003. She brings a wealth of enthusiasm and a fresh vision for the future of All Saints'.

Today, ASC has a total enrolment of around 550 boys and girls. With its academic and sporting achievements among the top in the Central Western Region of New South Wales it is one of the most successful Colleges in the state, both academically and in co-curricular activities.

The School was nominated as a member of the Combined Associated Schools in 1928, a grouping of private schools, but never formally joined.

Motto

The Motto: "Deo Auctore Vim Promovemus Insitam" is Latin for "With God as our guide, we develop the inner strength"

Heads of College

Henry Kemmis ^{(A boys boarding house is named after Kemmis)}

Edward Bean ^{(A sporting house is named after Bean)}

Rev Frederick Tracey ^{(Also the name of a day house)}

Britten ^{(A boarding house is named after Britten)}

George Stiles ^{(A sports oval was named after Stiles)}

Rev Lindsay Watson ^{(A senior Boy's boarding house as well as an oval is named after Watson)}

Rev. Alan Catley

Ted Evans ^{(A day house was named after Evans)}

Roy Dent

Vic Tunbridge

Peter Gebhardt ^{(The right wing of Watson house is named after Gebhart)}

Dan Massey

Bruce "Bopper" Clydsdale ^{(Still teaching at the College)}

Robert Bickerdike ^{(A sports complex is named after Bickerdike)}

Doug Finlay

Jock Bidwell ^{(Previous Head of Junior School)}

Dr Timothy Wright

Jenny Williams

Dr Peter Miller (Currently Head of College)

Notable alumni

* Bobby Gibbes DSO DFC OAM (1916–2007), World War II flying ace
* Arthur Charles Hall VC, Soldier, grazier, winner of the Victoria Crosscite encyclopedia| last = Hall | first = George | encyclopedia = Australian Dictionary of Biography| title = Hall, Arthur Charles (1896 - 1978)| url = http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A090152b.htm?hilite=Victoria%3BCross| accessdate = 2008-01-23| edition = Online | year = 1983| publisher = Melbourne University Press| volume = 9| location = Melbourne| pages = pp.160-161]
* Scott Staniforth (born 1977), rugby union footballer
* Sir Charles Wade KCMG (1863–1922), Premier of New South Wales 1907-1910

References

ee also

*List of Non-Government schools in New South Wales
*List of boarding schools
*List of Victoria Crosses by School

External links

* [http://saints.nsw.edu.au/ All Saints' College website]