Description

For more than a quarter of a century, from 1959 to 1985, Paul McKeown’s name was synonymous with Canberra Grammar School. A man of vision and tenacity, he led by example, driving changes both within and outside the classroom that allowed individual boys to flourish. In the national arena, he was revered among educationists for his high principles and well-founded philosophies, attracting teachers of the highest calibre, many of whom became heads of schools themselves.

Paul McKeown’s educational leadership was also nourished by an abiding love of the arts. He served as president of the Arts Council of Australia, and invited artists and poets to visit Canberra, enriching not just the school but the wider community too. In private, he thrived on the pleasures to be found in the company of family and friends, books, and overseas travel; companions valued his keen sense of humour and capacity for deep and true friendship.

In this edited book of memoirs, McKeown reflects on a lifetime in education, ranging from his own schooldays at Canberra Grammar, to university years in Sydney and Oxford, and to formative teaching experiences at the Dragon School, Outward Bound Mountain School, Northampton Remand Home and Geelong Grammar School’s Timbertop campus. Those who knew him will revel in his warm and insightful recollections; others will appreciate the wisdom and integrity of a man who helped to shape the educational landscape of Australia.