George Campbell Saxby

George Campbell Saxby, the School’s fifth Headmaster (1925-1933), was born on 5 February 1869, the son of Jacob Saxby, a Public School Headmaster.

He enrolled at Sydney Boys High in January 1884, as part of the second intake of students following the foundation of the School in October 1883. He became dux of the School in 1885 and 1886 and was first among the Sydney High School candidates at the Senior University Examination in 1887.

After completing a BA at Sydney University in 1891, he taught for two years at All Saints’ College, Bathurst before being appointed to the soon-to-close Bathurst Girls High School at the beginning of 1893.

He returned to Sydney High as a mathematics teacher in August 1893, became master in charge of mathematics in 1902 and then Deputy Headmaster for one year in 1912.

During this time, he was President of the Old Boys’ Union in 1908 and 1912, and a Vice President in 1909-1910. He was also a Vice President in 1914-1917.

He became Headmaster of the newly-opened Orange High School in 1914 before moving to Maitland in 1916 and Newcastle High School in 1919. While at Maitland, he introduced the prefect system, no doubt influenced by the introduction of prefects at Sydney High in 1910.

He returned to Sydney High School as Headmaster in 1925. The next eight years saw the establishment of the Parents and Citizens Association in 1925, the move from Ultimo to new accommodation at Moore Park in 1928 and the establishment of the McKay Sportsground in 1932. The period was also characterised by continuing success at rowing (the 1st VIII were Head of the River in 1925, 1926, 1927 and 1929) and new success at athletics (the athletics team won the Senior GPS championship in 1930) and cricket (the 1st XI were GPS premiers for the first time in 1933).

The current badge and motto (“veritate et virtute”) were instituted at Mr Saxby’s suggestion in 1928 as he disapproved of the old School motto, “extremos pudeat rediisse” (“be ye ashamed to come in last”) which he knew the boys translated as “last home lousy”.

He retired at the end of 1933, the School’s golden jubilee year, and died on 25 May 1954.

Saxby House in the intra-school sporting competition commemorates his contribution to Sydney Boys High School.