Sandy Phillips
Encyclopedia
Frederick George Phillips was the second Australian-born headmaster of Sydney Grammar School
.
, the son of a Methodist Minister. He attended Newington College
(1894-1898) where he became known as 'little Sandy' as his brother was 'big Sandy'. The nickname Sandy followed him through life. He entered the arts faculty of the University of Sydney
in 1899 and was awarded first class honours in English
on his graduation.
in 1902 under the headship of Albert Bythesea Weigall
. In 1904 he travelled to Europe
to study history, education and language at the Universities of Berlin Leipzig
Paris
. After completing his Master of Arts
, Phillips returned to Sydney Grammar and was the senior English master until 1914.
of the private Mowbray House School
in Chatswood, New South Wales
. Bavin had been at Newington as a student with Phillips and had opened Mowbray House, as Chatswwod Preparatory School, in 1906. Phillips remained at Mowbray house until his return to Sydney Grammar in 1924.
said of his term of office: "The Headmaster wisely and modestly considered that his task was to preserve the heritage of the past so far as he could, so that on it his successor might build. He saw the need for changes and developments in the School to meet the challenge of change outside; but these, he felt should be begun by those who would carry on." He had been an inspirational teacher and had sunstantially improved the cultural life of the school even for a student like Max Dupain
who was not scholastically inclined; "Thanks to my English sixth form master, Sandy Phillips, I learned to love Shakespeare".
Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, selective, day school for boys, located in Darlinghurst, Edgecliff and St Ives, all suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
.
Early life
Sandy Phillips was born in Tamworth, New South WalesTamworth, New South Wales
Tamworth is a city in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Peel River, Tamworth, which contains an estimated population of 47,595 people, is the major regional centre for southern New England and in the local government area of Tamworth Regional Council. The city...
, the son of a Methodist Minister. He attended Newington College
Newington College
Newington College is an independent, Uniting Church, day and boarding school for boys, located in Stanmore, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
(1894-1898) where he became known as 'little Sandy' as his brother was 'big Sandy'. The nickname Sandy followed him through life. He entered the arts faculty of the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
in 1899 and was awarded first class honours in English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
on his graduation.
Teaching career
Phillips began his teaching career as a schoolmasterSchoolmaster
A schoolmaster, or simply master, once referred to a male school teacher. This usage survives in British public schools, but is generally obsolete elsewhere.The teacher in charge of a school is the headmaster...
in 1902 under the headship of Albert Bythesea Weigall
Albert Bythesea Weigall
Albert Bythesea Weigall CMG, was an English-born Australian schoolmaster, headmaster of Sydney Grammar School for 45 years.-Early life:...
. In 1904 he travelled to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to study history, education and language at the Universities of Berlin Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
. After completing his Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
, Phillips returned to Sydney Grammar and was the senior English master until 1914.
Mowbray House School
In 1914 Phillips left Sydney Grammar and became co-headmaster with Lance BavinLancelot Bavin
Lancelot Bavin was a New Zealand-born Australian educator who was the Founder and Headmaster of Chatswood Preparatory School and Headmaster and Co-Headmaster of Mowbray House School. He was the preparatory school headmaster of lawyer and company director Sir Norman Cowper CBE, poet Kenneth...
of the private Mowbray House School
Mowbray House School
Mowbray House School was an independent, day and boarding school for boys, located in Chatswood, on the North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.-History:...
in Chatswood, New South Wales
Chatswood, New South Wales
Chatswood is a suburb on the North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Chatswood is located 10 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Willoughby. Chatswood West is a separate suburb...
. Bavin had been at Newington as a student with Phillips and had opened Mowbray House, as Chatswwod Preparatory School, in 1906. Phillips remained at Mowbray house until his return to Sydney Grammar in 1924.
Headmaster
In 1940, after eight years as Master of the Lower School, Phillips was appointed as the sixth Headmaster of Sydney Grammar School. On his appointment he was 61 and the war years were difficult for the school. Sir Victor WindeyerVictor Windeyer
Major General Sir William John Victor Windeyer KBE CB DSO and Bar PC KC Australian judge, soldier and educator, was a Justice of the High Court of Australia....
said of his term of office: "The Headmaster wisely and modestly considered that his task was to preserve the heritage of the past so far as he could, so that on it his successor might build. He saw the need for changes and developments in the School to meet the challenge of change outside; but these, he felt should be begun by those who would carry on." He had been an inspirational teacher and had sunstantially improved the cultural life of the school even for a student like Max Dupain
Max Dupain
Maxwell Spencer Dupain AC was a renowned Australian modernist photographer.-Early life:Dupain received his first camera as a gift in 1924, spurring his interest in photography He later joined the Photographic Society of NSW, and when he left school, he worked for Cecil Bostock in Sydney.-Early...
who was not scholastically inclined; "Thanks to my English sixth form master, Sandy Phillips, I learned to love Shakespeare".