tudor times

Celebrating our Headmaster, Chris Tudor AM - 30 years of service to St Philip’s College

After 30 years as Headmaster of St Philip’s College, Chris Tudor AM, will retire at the end of Term 2.

A multi-faceted man, vitally interested in people and passionate about education... That’s our Headmaster!

This is a momentous occasion for our Headmaster, the College, Alice Springs and Outback Australia.

the

30 years as Headmaster

Chris Tudor to retire at end of Term 2, 2016

“I planned to stay for two or three years...”

Education - a family affair - page 2

Chris’s early childhood in Broken Hill, NSW, provided him with his first contact with the Outback.

Upon moving to Melbourne, Chris completed his secondary education at Melbourne Grammar, where he was a student leader. It was during these years that Chris resolved not only to become a teacher but to pursue his career in the country.

At St Philip’s, Chris soon found himself in the position of being able to consolidate his original career goal: to ensure that young people living in isolation be given access to a first class education and opportunities to broaden their perspective, beyond their town, their state, even their country and to think globally. His determination to achieve this goal has never wavered in 30 years, despite ill health in recent years.

Chris has also raised funds for, and over-seen the building of, extensive school facilities for the growth in enrolments - 147 in 1989 to 720 today - a remarkable achievement in itself.

His determination to encourage Indig-enous students to embrace education, includes personally tutoring a group of students who failed to access the school’s Bridging classes.

That’s our Headmaster.

Tudor Timesthe

Above: 2004 - Chris Tudor was invested as a Member of the Order of Australia by then NT Administrator, Ted Egan AO

The Award was for Service to Education, particularly as Principal of St Philip’s College, and through the introduction and development of Outdoor Education as a major area of interest.

Instead of going to Government House for the investiture Chris chose to have it in at St Philip’s so he could share his award with the people who have been part of his quest to create an outstanding educational facility in the Outback, as well as the extended Tudor family members who had travelled to Alice Springs from interstate for the ceremony.

Jill Tudor (pictured above with the family), waseducated at Methodist Ladies College in Melbourne. Jill was also a teacher who rose to the position of Principal of Alice Springs School of the Air and Bradshaw Primary School, in the public primary sector.

Jill, sadly passed away in December 2015, and throughout her own illustrious career was awarded the 2013 NT Primary Principal of the Year and the Chief Minister’s Public Service Medal, posthumously, in late 2015.

James, Sarah and Davey are also teachers, at...St Philip’s.

Above: 1986 - The adventure begins. James, on the bike with Sarah. Jill holding baby Davey and Chris.

Education - a family affair

Order of Australia award shared with College family

Chris’ mother, Elizabeth Tudor (shown above with Chris), was fondly known by every-one at St Philip’s as Granny Tudor. In the early days, Granny sold pens at churches in Melbourne, and sought the sup-port of philanthropic trusts to raise money for various projects, including the College cricket pitch. Chris’ mother-in-law, Gwen Corless (pictured above right), was his loyal secreatary for seven yeas.

Mothers who helped

Above: 1988 - Baby Rebecca, held by James and Chris, arrived two years later.

We feel our four children all have enjoyed an education and opportunities on a par with our own.4

It is unusual for three children to work for their father as teachers.

All have come to help out as staff members at times of great shortage and have stayed, making part of their careers here, like many who have taught at St Philip’s.

All went away to university, but returned. All are disciples of Flynn and Fred McKay, determined to provide a ‘Mantle of Safety’ for the children of the Outback - and they know how important that is, as they themselves were children of the Outback.

2016

St Philip’s Day & Boarding College v

Disadvantage & Isolation

Skipper, Chris Tudor1986 - 2016

Above: In 1997, Headmaster, Chris Tudor was named Territorian of the Year (Southern Region) for his contribution to the development of the education infra-structure and opportunities in the NT.

The then College Council Chair, Mrs Jan Heaslip (pictured above with Chris) was in attendance when Chris received his award.

- Member of the Order of Australia – see previous page - Territorian of the Year (Southern Region) for his contribution to the development of the education infrastructure and opportuni ties in the NT. - Association of Independent Schools NT - Principal of the Year- Honorary Fellowship - Association of Independent Schools’ NT- Honorary Member of Round Square- Fellow of the Australian College of Education - President of Somerville Community Services NT- Co-founder, past Chairman & Board member of the Association of Independent Schools NT- Chair of ISCA (Independent Schools Council of Australia) - a significantpersonalachievementandhistorymakingfortheNT-MemberofISCABoardforover17years-keepinghisfinger firmlyonthepulseofeducationissuesinAustralia.(ISCAisthe national voice of independent schools in Australia)- Representative of the Australian member schools on International Round Square Board- Member of the NT Board of Studies-MemberoftheNTBlockGrantAuthorityBoard- Member of the Teacher Registration Board NT- Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Committee NT- Member of the Council of St Mary’s, Alice Springs- Member of the Uniting Church National Education Committee- Member of the Uniting Church, Northern Synod, Standing Committee - Vice-President of the Alice Springs Principals’ Association- Member of the Australian College of Educational Leaders- Member of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools Australia. - Member of the Board of the National Insitute for Quality Teaching & School Leadership, NIQTSL. (Interim Board of Teaching Australia)- Rotary Vocational Excellence Award - Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship- Honorary member of Rotary Club of M’bantua- Host of 35th international Round Square Conference, 2001- Host of the Australasian Regional Round Square Conference, 2006- Host of the Australasian Junior Regional Round Square Conference, 2011- Attended 17 Round Square International Conferences

Right: Deputy Head-master, Chris Eldridge and Headmaster, Chris Tudor - on the first day of the day school, 1989.

There have been 21 major building projects (new buildings, refurbishments &/or extensions) undertaken since Chris arrived in 1986.

Artist: Past staff member, Anne Marshall

Let’s get this show on the road

21 major building projects in 30 years!

Leading by example

Runs on the board

Innings: 30

Wickets: 360

Runs: 131,400 retired

Tudor Timesthe

1995

That’s our Headmaster

Above: Yep...we build boats! Why not! St Philip’s is the only school in Australia offering boat building as a Year 12 subject.

1996: The original St Philip’s Bush Band - Chris Tudor and Anne Marshall playing at the College Fair

Above: Registrar, Carol Leesong; Deputy Headmaster, Chris Leesong; Headmaster, Chris Tudor and Jill Tudor in Baby Boomer mode for the annual Baby Boomers’ Bash. The Tudor-Leesong partnership is argu-ably one of the longest and most successful professional relationships in education in Australia.

Above: In 1994, Headmaster, Chris Tudor, with Rev Fred McKay, Founder of the Residential College and Patron of the Outback Achievers Appeal, which has made so much develop-ment possible.

Left: Working with Police to ferry students and staff across a flooded, Charles Creek

Above: Sharing a quiet moment with Charles Butcher during a Round Square trip to Canada.

Above: A caricature of Chris on his beloved Massey Ferguson tractor, commemorating his 21st year as Headmaster, in 2007.

Above: Chris with College Council/Board member and Chairman of 20 years, Charles Butcher OAM.

Artist: Past staff member, Jackie O’Toole

Above: As the Australian member schools representative on the board of the internation-al Round Square association, Chris brought the world to Alice Springs when St Philip’s hosted the 35th international Round Square confer-ence, a mammoth logistical challenge for the College and town, further complicated by the events of September 11 and the demise of ANSETT, just 10 days before.