WARM TRIBUTES

Southland Times, Issue 20771, 11 May 1929, Page 8

WARM TRIBUTES

HEADMASTER RETIRES MR ROBERTSON, OF ST. GEORGE 45 YEARS A TEACHER Striking tributes were paid to Mr G. E. Robertson, retiring headmaster of the St. George School, at a large meeting of Georgetown residents last night. Fully 400 assembled in the Georgetown Hall, and amongst these were past and present pupils, parents and prominent educationists of Southland. Musical and elocutionary items were interspersed with the many expressions of esteem. The presentations, which were made by the ex-pupils, the school committee, and the householders, included a gold watch, an illuminated address, and a handsome grandfather's clock. Amongst the apologies for absence, were letters from the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, Minister of Internal Affairs; Mr A. C. Rowe, rector of the Waipukurau High School; Mr E. C. Hewat, formerly headmaster Riverton District High School; and Mr A. Inglis, late school inspector. In his opening remarks the chairman, Mr G. R. Brown, said he had very great pleasure in extending a welcome to' the large audience that attended. It was unnecessary to say very much on their purpose for assembling, which was to bid farewell to their headmaster, Mr G. E. Robertson, who had been in charge of the school since its inception 144 years ago. During those years, the roll had increased from 250 scholars to over 600. He felt sure that there was no parent present who would not testify to the sterling qualities of Mr Robertson. They all owed a great debt of gratitude to him for his energy, his devotion to duty and his kindliness. During all Mr Robertson’s 45 years of work as a master he had never applied for a half day’s leave for sickness. He had worked his way up to the high position he held through hard work, and inherent ability. The speaker expressed pleasure that Mr and Mrs Robertson were not leaving Invercargill, and assured them that they were retiring with all the kindliest wishes from parents, past and present scholars and other residents of Georgetown. Mr A. W. Jones's Tribute.

Briefly outlining Mr Robertson's career as a teacher, Mr A. W. Jones, chairman of the Southland Education Board, said that i on May 2, ISB4, he had entered the River- I ton school as a pupil teacher and five years ' later was appointed in turn second and first assistant at that school. On July 31, . 1907, he was made a headmaster and on February 1, 1915, he became headmaster of the St. George School. Mr Jones then , said that Mr Robertson stood very high in the esteem of the Education Department, and out of 6232 teachers in New Zealand, only two were above him in grading. It was hardly necessary, Mr Jones said, to bear witness how capably and faithfully Mr Robertson had performed his duties. Whenever he visited the school, he was impressed by the very fine environment that surrounded the pupils under the control of Mr | Robertson. “I notice the committee has put up a notice ‘Trespassers will be prosecuted,’ ” Mr Jones continued in jocular vein, “but they should make an exception in Mr Robertson’s favour, because he practically lives there.” He concluded by describing Mr Robertson as being eminently a well-balanced man, and a man having a powerful influence for good. On behalf of the board members, he wished Mr and Mrs Robertson a very happy retirement. Mr J. Aitken, the secretary of the first school committee, said that he always felt proud of that committee for having been responsible for the introduction of Mr Robertson to the St. George School. After giving some interesting reminiscences of the opening day of the school, he concluded by adding his wishes to those of the previous speakers. Mr Bert McEwan, on behalf of the expupils of the school, amidst applause then presented Mr Robertson with a gold watch, suitably engraved, and all joined in singing “For They arc Jolly Good Fellows.” The occasion was both a sad and a happy one, said Mr F. G. Stevenson, ex-secretary of the Southland Education Board —sad because they had assembled to bid farewell to one they loved; happy because Mr Robertson was going to have many happy years of association with them. It might be asked in what capacity he himself was on the platform, whether as an ex-secretary of the board, or as one welcoming him to the ranks of the “unemployed,” but he was proud to be able to say that he was there as an old pupil of Mr Robertson, and as one who had known him for a very long time. He was able to say that St.. George, in losing Mr Robertson, was losing one of the greatest educationists in Southland. The St. George school had been raised to a very high position and he was sure that Mr Menzies would uphold that position well. In conclusion, he wished Mr and Mrs Robertson every happiness. Mr A. McNeil, former inspector in Invercargill, said that Mr Robertson had not been content to rest on his qualifications as a headmaster, but had continued to be progressive and to improve his grading until finally he was given the highest possible. The next speaker, was Mr W. A. Service, who said there were three reasons why inspectors were sorry that Mr Robertson was retiring. Firstly, he was a loveable man; secondly, he was a good headmaster; and thirdly, he had brought his school to a high standard. He was of the “peaceful penetration” type of teacher, rather than the “sledge-hammer.” 1 When he first visited St. George School, . it did not take him long to recognize a ' tone that was vastly superior to mast in ’ New Zealand, said Mr R. R. Hunter. There was a fellowship between everybody that was invigorating. Mr Robertson might t say that he had a good staff; so he did, . but the excellence of that staff was largely ; due to Mr Robertson himself. Further tributes were paid by Messrs A. • L. Wyllie, former inspector; James Lenij han, former teacher at St. George; and R. . Brownlie, secretary of the Southland Education Board. j Mr J. A. Mehaffey, secretary of the r School Committee, then presented Mr Rob- ’ ertson with a richly illuminated address, t Mr G. R. Brown, chairman of the School • Committee, on behalf of the residents of > the St. George School district, asked Mr r and Mrs Robertson to accept a material i token of the esteem in which they were : held. He thereupon made the presentation of a handsome dark oak full chiming grand- - father's clock, and appreciative silence ; reigned while the clock was made to chime the hour of twelve in mellow tones. s Mr Robertson's Reply. ’ In a response full of feeling, Mr Robert - 1 son said that he looked forward to his retirement with some trepidation. The various speakers had spoken of his success, but f most of it was due to his good fortune. ’ He had been able to spend his school days f under Mr Webber and that name was a , sufficient guarantee to most Southlanders that he had been given a good primary ’ grounding. Later, he had been taught by j Mr J. C. Adams, who was a man’s man and a teacher’s teacher. He himself had followed Mr Adams’s methods in teaching, and any success he had had,, he attributed largely to that tuition. Later he had been a pupil teacher under Mr E. C. Hewat and he had also been under ten inspectors. He was blessed with a very good staff of teachers, and the policy he had followed had e been not to go nosing into their rooms, e but he had given them many chances to e use their own discretion. Then he had S been fortunate in the school committees e which had worked with him, and the huge e improvements made in the school, grounds and fittings were a tribute to, their work. He testified to the valuable assistance given by past chairmen and secretaries and to ) the present ones, Mr G. R. Brown. and Mr

J. A. Mehaffey. He also thanked Mr F. G. Stevenson, the past, and Mr R. Brownlie, the present, secretaries of the Education Board. The parents above all had been wonderful workers and it was to them fundamentally that the success of the school was largely due. They had given more than any other school had received from its householders. He thanked the speakers for their very flattering remarks and the parents for the beautiful present they had given him, which was in nowise necessary for him to make him remember the happy days he had spent in the St. George School district. The chairman then introduced the new headmaster, Mr G. Menzies, of whom he hoped as good things would be said in another 40 years. In reply, Mr Menzies first spoke of the high place Mr Robertson held in his esteem. He could assure them that Mr Robertson and himself had the same objectives—the best welfare of the children. Tire Rev. E. Gardiner, moving a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman and the performers, also mentioned that the Moderator of the Presbyterian Assembly had recently commented on the fine feeling that he had noticed in the St. George School. The final presentation to be made was that of a leather portmanteau to Mr 'J. A. Mehaffey, the secretary of the School Committee. Mr T. J. Daniels said that as Mr Mehaffey had decided that he should retire for a while at least, the committee had thought that some form of material appreciation of Mr Mehaffey’s services should be made before he severed his connection with the committee. Mr Mehaffey suitably replied. During the evening, items were given by Miss Mona Mitchell and Mrs Lea, pianoforte duet; Miss E. Robb, songs; Miss R. Helm, songs; Miss E. Brumby, elocutionary items; Mr F.’Jones, songs; Mr S. Anderson, songs; Mr T. Brown, songs. Miss I. Browne, L.T.C.L., acted as aecompaniste.