Ian Appleton

Fred was a Port man all his life; he spent the last part of it teaching ‘down the Port’. From 1942 to 1969 he was headmaster of Le Fevre Boys Technical High, his memorial today is the fine assembly hall that bears his name.

Fred was independent to the point of radical. After graduating in the fields of history, geography and economics, he did a stint in the country and in the Primary Branch, before moving on to Le Fevre Tech. He was strongly in support of the teaching of social studies, and in particular, was strongly pro-China and pro-Russia. He supported the teaching of the history and geography of the world’s largest countries, when such a thing was unpopular and, for a teacher, indiscreet.

Harry Penny relates the following anecdote. A senior master, one Bernie Cosgrove, was using an OUP text on the social characteristics of Russia and a complaint was made to the Department. An inspector came to the school ‘advising’ the withdrawal of the book. Vick told him, ‘In my school, seniors are responsible to me.’ The inspector left. Vick was then asked, that is instructed, to discuss the matter at Head Office with the Superintendent of Technical Schools. Same result. The Director of Education then entered the fray. Same result. A Ministerial enquiry followed, but by this time the course and the use of the book had finished.

Fred did a marvellous job as a fearless battler for his staff, his school and his students. And not only for his school and staff. Fred was a tireless worker for his Union. As President of the SA Public Teachers Union (SAPTU), he often chartered a plane for visits to country schools, and would probably have been the first to do so. Fred related the time when, on one such trip, seeing something of interest below, and just going out of sight, he turned sharply and the plane turned 45° off course.

Fred loved to get out in the yard and talk to his students, a quality that Bernie Cosgrove says all good headmasters should have. And he tried to set an example for them. For instance, he would pick up papers from the yard, encouraging his students to do likewise. Once, one of his students remarked, ‘Please sir, there’s a bit over there.’ Fred’s response is not known.

Fred was one of the pioneers in school broadcasting and in many aspects of technical education. He represented the Institute on the Home and Child Safety Council, the National Trust and the Scholarship Committee. When he retired as principal, due to indifferent health, he continued to serve the Institute in many capacities. He was an accomplished and tenacious sportsman.

Fred set a fine example to his staff and fellow colleagues, in both his liberal way of thinking and his independence in running his school. In the days when most teachers accepted most of what their headmasters said verbatim, Fred encouraged independence of thought, and he in turn refused to accept meekly the rulings of his superiors.

There were not enough Fred Vickerys then, and there certainly aren’t now.

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