Dr Tim Hawkes awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia
We are delighted to share that in 2014 Dr Tim Hawkes OAM was publicly recognised by the Australian Government for outstanding school leadership and awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to education. Tim spent his formative years, between 1975 – 1980, as a Geography Teacher at LGS. Subsequently, he spent 28 years in school headship at St Leonard’s College, Melbourne and at Australia’s oldest independent school, The King’s School, Parramatta. Here he shares his fond memories of LGS.
LGS was a formative influence on my life. Newly married to Jane, LGS provided not only employment but a rich community of friendship. It was a safe place for “firsts”. First job. First home. First child.
John Millward hired me as an addendum to a clutch of great educators, such as Nigel Johnson, that he managed to siphon from Durham University.
My subject was Geography which saw me drilling holes into bathtubs with the redoubtable Dave Evans in order to model fluvial landforms and motivate aspirant Geographers for Oxbridge entrance.
I also coached sport – an activity that involved me joining the Ed Thorpe choir (led by Ced Davies). We would sing choruses that assassinated any we felt deserved it after tramping back from the 10 Acre playing fields dusted with the oily grime from the adjacent crematorium.
LGS was a place that was established enough to let you try things – and I will forever be grateful for that. Whether it be building canoes, lobbing thunder-flashes with George Beazley on Cadet Camp, or leading an assembly that saw Michael Clifton eat a daffodil – LGS allowed it – even vengeful staff/student rugby matches.
The decision to leave the liquid communion of the LGS staffroom and languid games of 20-20 cricket against impudent staff from other schools, was not easy. But the sun surf and steaks of my home country beckoned, so off Jane and I went with one and a half children.
Teaching the raw-boned Australian boy was a different proposition to the be-boatered English lad. Although more larrikin and less inclined to academic endeavour, he does, nonetheless, have many of the same disarming qualities including a fondness for humour, competition, and genuine engagement.
Australia has been kind to us and seen our three: Peter, Alicia and Pippa, married and encumbered with loud and sticky children. A PhD was completed when I was at Knox Grammar in Sydney and at 35, I found myself at the helm of St Leonard’s College (boasting 1400 students, two campuses and one hovercraft.) I was also able to zot around the world as a member of the International Baccalaureate Board – so my duty-free collection grew.
Being appointed Headmaster of Australia’s oldest boys’ school – The King’s School, Parramatta, brought 20 years of agony and ecstasy. It gave me the leverage to establish the Australian Boarding Schools’ Association, join the G20 group of Heads and become a Trustee of the International Boys’ School Coalition. This bumped me into a number of LGS legends such as John Weitzel.
However, there was also a wearying need to dance in a spotlight and be watched by the benevolent, toxic, and bemused. So – after 28 years of Headship I retired to run my own educational business.
Jane and I now live in our unit on Sydney Harbour where we enjoy many rich and wonderful memories – not least of the place that launched me into the profession I have loved.