Sports prize-giving, 14 September 1900

Sydney Morning Herald, 15 September 1900, p 4: 

The presentation of prizes won in connection with the sports held on August 24 by the pupils of the Sydney High School, Ultimo, took place yesterday afternoon at the school. The Colonial Secretary (the Hon J See) presided, and among the teaching staff present were Messrs. J. Waterhouse, M.A. (headmaster), W. Crompton, M.A., J. Stephenson, B.A., A.J. Studdy, B.A., C. Smith, M.A., T.B. Trebeck, M.A. and G. Saxby, B.A. A number of ladies attended, and the Colonial Secretary was accompanied by Mr. Critchett Walker, Principal Under-Secretary. Mr. Waterhouse, in introducing Mr. See, gave a short address on the value of school sports in the development of manly character.

The Australian Star, 15 September 1900, p 11 [including additional material from Evening News, 15 September 1900, p 5;  and Sydney Morning Herald, 15 September 1900, p 4]

Mr. Waterhouse spoke briefly, saying that some boys had proved themselves to be good sprinters, and to possess excellent staying powers. Their physical development, which was promoted by sports meetings such as the one recently held, would help them to emulate the deeds, of those who, to prove their loyalty and devotion to the motherland and to their beloved Queen, recently left these shores, and had made for themselves a name of which we, as Australians, might justly be proud. (Applause.) At the present time the school was represented at the front by Captain Legge, a master of the school, having left with the first contingent. He was sure they all wished Captain Legge a safe and speedy return.

Mr. Waterhouse, in introducing Mr. See, said that gentleman had won the hearts of the boys. When Mr. See was with them last Christmas time he gave them words of sound advice and encouragement, and the boys were unanimous in their wish that they should receive their trophies and prizes at his hands.

[EN: The secretary, O. A. A. Diethelm, read the report of the fifteenth annual meeting of the club, which was held on the 24th ultimo, and which was very successful, seventy out of the eighty-one members of the club having competed.] 

The report of the club was then read by the secretary, mention being made of the desire of the school that a gymnasium should be built. 

[SMH: Eight years ago they had been assured that a gymnasium was a mere question of time, as it had proved to be...] 

The way in which this was introduced was as follows:— If Mr. See desires to have a further claim on our gratitude may we ask him to impress upon his colleague, Mr. Perry, the Minister for Public Instruction, how necessary is a gymnasium for the school. 

Having presented the prizes, Mr. See addressed the gathering. He had not come with a prepared speech, as he had been extremely busy with Parliamentary work and Ministerial duties. He was exceedingly pleased to be invited to be present, and to hear that the words he addressed to them on the last occasion that he visited them formed a pleasant memory to the scholars. He was greatly rejoiced at hearing the favourable report of the club, and recognised at once that the old proverb, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," was a good one. He had the extreme gratification, on the occasion of his last visit to the school of congratulating the scholars on the very great success which had attended them in their various attainments, and the promise of their future career. He was glad to hear that they had been so successful in their examinations, so attentive to their duties, had given such general satisfaction to their teachers, and that their behaviour had been so remarkably good; all of which reflected the highest credit on their teachers. The intellectual results being so satisfactory, the next thing of course to be considered was that of their physical health and exercise. The magnificent prizes which he had presented to-day were, he thought, an evidence that their physical training was as necessary as mental training. 

The Daily Telegraph, 15 September 1900, p 5: 

The boys of that school had to take their part in the future making of Australian history, and the desire to excel in everything should be encouraged. He would say, and without boasting, that the Australian young man was one of the finest types of manhood that could be found in the world. That had been proved by results. Take their cricketers! How many times had they gone to England, and come back as champions? Take the championship of the Thames, won a day or two previously by Towns, who, he was willing to prophecy, would soon become champion of the world. Then, again, look at the endurance and pluck of the Australians in South Africa. He had been told by an English officer, not attached to the Australian contingents, that it was a most notable fact that wherever the fighting was fiercest and the danger greatest, where tremendous pluck and great mobility in action were required, there the Australian troops were found. (Loud cheers.) The great British generals had also recognised this important fact. Mr. See said he would use his utmost endeavors with Mr. Perry, Minister for Education, to obtain for the boys of the High School a suitable gymnasium.