Bernard Newsome
15/6/1934 – 1/4/2025
When Bernard became Head Prefect, one of his first acts was to change a long-held tradition – he abolished compulsory cadetship.
After Ballarat Grammar (where he repeated sixth form) he attended Melbourne University and completed a Bachelor of Arts. It was here he met Mary Reynolds and they got married. He travelled to England in 1960 on a honeymoon with Mary and stayed for 12 years. He fathered 3 children. He attended Oxford University at the same time as being a milkman.
In London, at Goldsmiths College, he studied and was mentored by the two greats on the subject of language and learning, namely James Britton and Nancy Martin who became lifelong friends. He taught boys from working class backgrounds at a London school called Crown Woods and inspired them to want to learn.
On his return to Melbourne in 1972 he ran course B at Melbourne University with several colleagues which inspired and trained teachers for the many alternative schools in Melbourne in the seventies. Later he became Head of Department in Language and Literature at Rusden, Victoria College for many years.
After he retired, he became a knife maker, carpenter extraordinaire (with a flair for Amish folk furniture), technician for Mary’s art and was always involved in one way or another with his lifelong love of language and literature.
In 2019 Bernard was awarded lifetime membership of VATE (Victorian Association for the Teaching of English) “For outstanding service to the English teaching community in Victoria”.
Most people who came into Bernard’s life became lifelong friends, from university friends, to work colleagues, from students, to wine merchants. Everyone who knew Bernard says their lives were changed for the better, in many and various ways by knowing him and because he was such a kind and caring person.
Words provided by Bernard’s daughter Sarah.
Acknowledgement of Country
Ballarat and Queen’s Anglican Grammar School acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we learn, live and work, the Wadawurrung People, and recognises their continuing connection to the land and waterways. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
Commitment to Child Safety
Ballarat Grammar maintains a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of child abuse and actively implements measures to identify and manage any risks of harm to students within our school environment. The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people are central and fundamental responsibilities of the School. We are firmly committed to fostering a child-safe culture that provides an environment where students are safe and feel safe, where their participation is valued, their views respected, and their voices heard in decisions that affect their lives. Ballarat Grammar values diversity and strictly prohibits any racist or discriminatory practices. All members of our school community share the responsibility to care for children and young people by promptly raising any concerns regarding their safety, promoting their wellbeing, and protecting them from all forms of harm or abuse.
