Â鶹APP

Photo by Wikimedia Commons –  

Top 10 Astonishing Facts about Sir James Darling

Born in Tonbridge which is in England, Darling was the second born of an Englishman known as Augustine Major Darling. The mother wharls from Scotland and was called Jane Baird.

Darling attended a preparatory school in Tonbridge which belonged to his father. He later was admitted to Repton School which was a boarding school based in Derbyshire. 

It is interesting to know that he served as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery in France and occupied Germany for two years, 1918 and 1919. He then went to read history at Oriel College, Oxford. 

In addition, he taught at Merchant Taylors’ School in Liverpool from 1921 to 1924. Later, he joined the staff of Charterhouse in Surrey.

He was born and raised in England. He later moved to Australia where he is well known as an English headmaster. He led Geelong Grammar School from 1930 to 1961. He was also the Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Commission.

His full name is Sir James Ralph Darling. He is a champion of the education sector in Australia where he taught English to great men and women like Charles the Prince of Wales, and Prime Minister John Gorton.

This made Geelong Grammer School famous and gained more enrolments from around 300 to over 1000 students. The growth of Geelong Grammar School made him very famous across Australia and the World.

Actually, it is the growth of this school that made him a commission member at the University of Melbourn and also Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Commission.

Similarly, he was the founder and the first National President of the Australian College of Educators. This and many other positions he earned because he was making a great impact in the education sector. 

He was a great writer of Australian newspapers and also did various publications in form of books.

1. Headmaster

Photo by Wikimedia Commons –  

In 1930, he has designated the position of Headmaster of Geelong Grammar School in Australia. Due to his appointment, the school’s population grew to 1139 from 370. This is the record figure during the time of his retirement.

2. Founding Member of Headmasters’ Conference

Darling became very instrumental in the teaching industry by being the founding member of the Headmasters’ Conference of the Independent Schools of Australia. He was in the record as the conference’s sixth Chairman.

3. Set up Outward Bound Campus

Photo by Wikimedia Commons –

Furthermore, during his tenure as the Headmaster at Geelong, he was very influential in setting up the Outward Bound campus Timbertop which is situated in the foothills of the Australian Alps.

The Alps are between Mansfield and Mr. Buller where academic work was supplemented by a wide range of physical activity.

The alumni of this campus included Charles, Prince of Wales, future prime minister John Gorton and many others to name but a few.

4. President of the Australian College of Educators

He was a founder and the first National President of the Australian College of Educators where he participated in the position and also as a member of the council of the University of Melbourne from 1933 until 1971 and consequently from 1941 to 1951.

5. His Emphasis on Education

In actual fact, Darling believed that education was the primary goal to cultivate sensitivity in students. Further, he also believed that toughness was required for effective leadership.

 To that effect, he revolutionized Geelong Grammar School with his educational philosophy. He overhauled the curriculum and focused more on learning than achievements.

All his years as the headmaster, he encouraged hard work, selflessness, and competitiveness and never advocated for laziness.

6. Not re-appointed as Chairman at ABC

Photo by Wikimedia Commons –  

When he retired as Headmaster from Geelong Grammar School, he was given an opportunity to serve as the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) Chairman.

Unfortunately, he was not re-appointed as the Chairman, a decision by the Holt Liberal government in 1967. This brought a lot of controversies involving then ABC reporter Mike Willesee, a son of the Labour Senator Don Willesee.

7. He Wrote for Newspapers

9.  His Obituary

He died aged 96 in Melbourne in 1995. In his obituary, Darling was referred to as a prophet whose integrity, insight, intelligence, and courage gave him great standing in the community.

More so, having set up great institutions like the Australian College of Educators as President and also being a council in the University of Melbourne.

What made him the top Headmaster was the increase in the number of students at Geelong Grammar School making it the top English institution in Australia.

10. Honored in Different Institutions

Photo by Wikimedia Commons –

Darling was honored for his achievement in various institutions. For instance, he was honored as an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1953.

His achievements at St Michael and St George gave him a champion’s honor while in that same vein, he was given the Knight Bachelor in 1968 for his service to education and broadcasting.