Robert John Hinder

Robert John Hinder was born in Windsor, NSW on 6 October 1856. He was educated at Sydney Grammar School. He entered the teaching service as a pupil teacher in 1873 and continued his studies at Sydney University where he graduated with a BA in 1889.

His early career under the Council of Education saw him appointed to various primary schools both State and Church of England. In December 1882 he held a temporary appointment as teacher in the St James School in Elizabeth Street (probably just before its closure and resumption by the government for the Sydney High Schools) and, at the end of September 1883, he took up a temporary appointment as teacher in the Castlereagh Street Public School, just next door to the Castlereagh Street schoolhouse, where the Sydney High Schools were opened in October 1883.

He was appointed Headmaster of Maitland Boys High School in succession to John Waterhouse in 1889. At Maitland, Mr Hinder taught no fewer than five subjects - English, Latin, French, Greek and mathematics. For 25 years he presided as “Boss” of Maitland until 1914 when he was appointed the first Headmaster of North Sydney Boys High School.

He was appointed to Sydney Boys High in July 1915, following John Waterhouse’s retirement. Mr Hinder had applied for the Headmastership of Sydney High unsuccessfully in 1896 when John Waterhouse was appointed.

In 1915, Mr Hinder inherited a School struggling with the new system of education brought about by the introduction of new High Schools and the new Intermediate and Leaving Certificate examinations. A network of High Schools meant that, for the first time, teachers had promotional opportunities within the State system. This resulted in a high staff turn-over. The new system also meant that departmental regulations were imposed in an attempt to achieve uniformity among the new high schools.

At this time, Sydney Boys High began the struggle to maintain its independence and individuality in the face of the Education Department’s need to administer a system that now applied to all high schools in the State.

The new Combined High Schools (CHS) sporting competition was also causing problems. The popularity among the boys of CHS soccer was compromising the School’s participation in the GPS Rugby competition (for example, the 1917 1st XV match against The King’s School was forfeited). The controversy was eventually resolved by the School withdrawing from soccer. However, Mr Hinder’s time also witnessed the School’s first GPS success when the junior athletics team became joint-premiers at the 1917 GPS athletics carnival.

World War I also had its impact on the School community, in particular as it diverted the priorities of the Old Boys who enrolled to serve in great numbers.

Mr Hinder’s time at Sydney High was short. He died on 6 November 1918 from heart failure, just five days short of the Armistice that was to end World War I.

He is commemorated in the R J Hinder Library at Maitland. His obituary notice in The Record stated: "Mr Hinder had been at the School only three years, but his manly personality, his just dealings, and his unfailing sympathy had endeared him to all present boys."