Journal of the Teachers Federation September 19, 2016 Vol 97 No 6 PUBLIC SCHOOLS: STILL ADVANCING FAIRLY MAURIE MULHERON

The next time you are standing that there was not one note for inauguration of the Common- popular choice for a new nation- on a school assembly listening Australia. On the way home in a wealth of Australia in 1901, for al anthem to replace ‘“God Save to or singing "Advance Austra- bus, I concocted the first verse of it was at this important occa- the Queen”. It was not until lia Fair" you might like to reflect my song, and when I got home I sion that it was performed by 1984 that this was proclaimed on the fact that the composer of set it to music. I first wrote it in a massed choir of more than officially. our was a fellow the Tonic Sol-fa Notation, then 10,000. The original copyright has NSW public school teacher. transcribed it into the Old Nota- It was also for the inaugura- long expired and is now claimed Next month will be the 100th tion, and tried it over on an tion that a new third verse was by the Australian government. anniversary of his death, and at instrument next morning, and written, which today many The official anthem consists his last school, Five Dock Public found it correct … It seemed to Australians feel has such power- now of just two verses, the origi- School, where he was Head- me to be like an inspiration, and ful resonance: nal first and the 1901 third verse, master, the current Principal I wrote the words and music with Beneath our radiant Southern albeit with more inclusive and is ensuring that this piece of the greatest ease.” Cross, gender-neutral language. history is not forgotten. Many former students of Five We’ll toil with hearts and hands; Peter Dodds-McCormick died Peter Dodds-McCormick was Dock Public School recalled To make our youthful at his Waverley home on October born in 1834 in Port Glasgow, decades later that their Head- Commonwealth, 30, 1916, the same year from and migrated to master “could wield the baton Renowned of all the lands; which the earliest known record- Australia, landing in on to some purpose”, which may or For loyal sons beyond the seas ing of the song exists sung by February 21, 1855. Through his not have referred to a conduc- We’ve boundless plains to share; Australian troops in Egypt. He is involvement in the Presbyteri- tor’s stick. But he must have With courage let us all combine buried in . an Church, he became active in been regarded with some affec- To . Confirming what we all know, musical circles, composing songs tion as his nickname at school In joyful strains then let us sing that nobody becomes wealthy and conducting choirs. was Amicus, Latin for friend Advance Australia fair. choosing teaching as a career, It was reported that after and adviser. And it was under Some six years later, the NSW his estate at probate was valued attending a concert in the late this pen-name that, years later, Government awarded Peter at £52. 1870s in Sydney at which a he published his new musical McCormick £100. Even though I have never number of national anthems composition. On September 3, 1915, he regis- been a fan of songs being made were performed, he was frus- Its first known public perfor- tered his copyright. The song was “official”, each time I hear the trated that not one mention of mance was in Sydney on St published by the famous Sydney- Australian national anthem Australia had been heard. On Andrew’s Day, 1878, at a High- based Australian music publish- played, I allow myself a little his trip home late that night he land Society concert, which must er and instrument seller, W.H. smile knowing that the words started composing in his head have been a source of pride for Palings. and music were composed by the music for “Advance Australia this Presbyterian Scot. Sixty two years later, in 1977, an immigrant, who arrived by Fair”: However, it remained a a national plebiscite confirmed boat, and who was a NSW public “[I] felt very aggravated little-known song until the “Advance Australia Fair” as the school teacher. 16306