Staff of Gardeners Road
John Maloney
In June 1884, a brick principal’s residence was completed and John Maloney was able to move out of his Redfern home from where he travelled to the school each day by tram. Between 1886 and 1890, many criticisms by department officers were made of Maloney’s frequent use of corporal punishment, even in an era when this was common192 . As well as being an avid wielder of the cane, Maloney seemed to be the unforgiving type, as in December 1885 two boys who were visiting to play with his boys stole two of his pigeons, and he had them prosecuted in Redfern Court, where they were each fined 20/-, or 21 days incarceration193 . In 1890, following an investigation, Maloney was removed from the school194. When the local residents learned of his proposed removal, a public protest meeting was held to express their support for him, and to ask the Minister to reconsider his decision on the grounds that they were very happy with the job Maloney had done in educating their children over several years195.
Rupert Browne School Teacher at Gardeners Road PS 1911-1950
Junior Technical School
Official Opening Speech of Rupert Brown Gates
Rupert Browne was a great teacher. His whole life was illumined by his love for children and their love for him.
How can we assess the full quality of this man?
To appreciate him we would need to share the experiences of his fellow teachers who found him always helpful, kind and inspiring.
He would need to share the experiences of his headmasters who describe with deep feeling his unfailing loyalty and painstaking thoroughness.
We would need to share the professional insight of the Inspectors of the Schools who year after year praised his skills and devotion to duty.
One of the last notations on Rupert Brown's card was a single word from an Inspector's report. 'Excellent".
We would need to have shared the good fellowship which made him literally thousands of friends.
Rupert Browne entered the service of th Education Department a s pupil teacher in 1903.
After teaching in a number of schools fro the next ten years he came to Gardeners Road in 1913.
Here he found his life's work and the rest of his life, right up to his death on Easter Saturday 1913, was spend in the service of the children of South Sydney.
Many teachers have told me f the magical touch he had with children.
In the playground, he always had a small group of boys chatting to him telling them their troubles and aspirations.
His ability to get the best out of the boys was a legend; even the so-called problem children gave him no trouble.
They were anxious to please him as the other boys.
In his forty years at Gardeners Road, Rupert Browne taught thousands of boys.
It is no exaggerations to say that none of these boys has ever forgotten him and most were profoundly influenced by his gentle guidance.
Many became his close friends and new teachers at Gardeners Road would often remark on the numerous invitations Rupert received to have dinner in the home of his ex-pupils or their parents.
Rupert Browne was well known in the sporting world .
Among his close friends were such famous sportsmen as Victor Trumper, U.A Noble and Snowy Baker.
He was the first sportsmaster at Gardeners Road and in his many years that he carried out this important task developed the tradition of sporting prowess which still distinguishes this school.
He had an encyclopedic knowledge of many sports but his chief love was Australian Rules and for many years he played an active part in organising this game in New South Wales.
It is easy to imagine how the boys must have loved his reminiscences of great games and great players.
Perhaps some of the boys who went to his home or who went with him on trips as the weekend were shown his most treasured possession, a cricket bat autographed by Clem Hill.
It is most fitting that the sporting aspects of Rupert Brown's life have been commemorated by the printing of the Rupert Browne memorial book which records the meritorious sporting achievements of the school.
Even in his death Rupert Browne did not forget the school and the boys he loved so well.
A bequest of 50 pounds was made to the school and a number of other bequests were made to his former pupils.
My department is justly proud of its highly skilled devoted teachers.
In the history of education in NSW there have been many of these.
Teachers like Rupert Browne are rarer creatures.
Possessed of some unalienable quantity of personality a constant gentle manner and a natural dignity, he had a wonderful gift of understanding the boys and of evoking the best qualities of all who were fortunate enough to be his pupils.
My department has lost a devoted and highly valued servant. His relatives have lost the joy of frequent contact with a fine personality.
the boys of South Sydney have lost a great friend and teacher.
Our regrets must, however, be tempered by the knowledge that Rupert Browne had a full and joyous life,
doing the work that he loved.
All present are, I am sure, grateful to the old boys and the parents of students of this school who arranged for Rupert Brown to be commemorated in such a fine way.
It is hoped that future generations of pupils will be told the story of this devoted teacher and will be inspired to dedicate themselves as he did to the service of others.
I declare the Rupert Brown Memorial Gates Officially Open.
The Minister of Education
Centenary Principal
