CARRINGTON, John Archdall (1902-1988)

Modified on Sun, 09 Oct 2016 09:49 by Con — Categorized as: Biography - All, Biography - Staff, Geelong College

J A Carrington

CARRINGTON, John Archdall (1902-1988),

John Carrington, staff member from 1940 to 1967, taught Commercial Principles and Practice and some History as well as being Housemaster of Mackie House. Prior to Geelong College he taught at Ballarat Grammar School. ' He was first educated at Glamorgan and then, from 1916 to 1920, at Geelong Grammar School, where he was a prize-winning student and a member of the 1st Football XVIII. After joining the staff of Ballarat Grammar School, he took his arts and accountancy degrees through part-time study. One of his main interests outside the classroom was music; he became, as he puts it, a "laborious" organist, yet proficient enough to be chapel organist at Ballarat.'

'As the virtual, foundation Housemaster of Mackie House, he exercised a deep influence on the members of that house. For many years Mackie was a home for the younger boarders in Senior School and later, as a vertical house, had members from all age groups. Mr Carrington was unsparing of himself in his concern for the welfare of every boy in his charge and laboured to establish a healthy, happy and orderly community for them to live in.’ In his earlier years he coached both under-age cricket and football teams and later, actively supported the Glee Club productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operas each year. Mrs Carrington (-1980) who, as Katie Liddle, an accomplished pianist and Australian Broadcasting Commission performer, was accompanist for the Glee Club rehearsals and their notable performances.

After his retirement from teaching in 1967 he embarked on another career, until 1982, as an accountant in a Geelong solicitor's office.'

Sources: Pegasus December, 1967 p 14; Ad Astra, June 1988; Pegasus, 1988 p 128.