Charles Fisher (headmaster)

Australian headmaster

The Hon Charles Douglas Fisher

Born| 8 October 1921

Repton, England

Died| 5 December 1978 (aged 57)

Kanumbra, Australia

Nationality| English
Education| Marlborough College
Keble College, Oxford
Occupation(s)| Headmaster
Scotch College, Adelaide
Headmaster
Church of England Grammar School, Brisbane
Headmaster
Geelong Grammar School
Spouse(s)| Anne Gilmour, née Hammond
Children| Four sons, two daughters
Parent(s)| Geoffrey Fisher
Rosamond Chevallier, née Forman

The Hon Charles Douglas Fisher, (8 October 1921 – 5 December 1978) was the English-born Australian headmaster of Scotch College, Adelaide (1962–1969), Church of England Grammar School, Brisbane (1970–1973) and Geelong Grammar School (1974–1978).

## Early life

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Fisher was born in 1921 in Repton, Derbyshire, the son of the Rev Geoffrey Fisher (1887–1972) and his wife Rosamond Chevallier (née Forman) (1890–1986).[1] At the time of his birth Geoffrey Fisher was the headmaster of Repton School; he would subsequently be appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.[1] An older brother, Henry, would become a High Court judge, Henry Fisher.[2]

The young Charles was educated at Marlborough College and was then commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Artillery in 1941.[1] After the War, he studied at Keble College, Oxford (BA 1948, MA 1953).[1]

## Career

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Fisher began his teaching career at Harrow (1948–1955).[1] His wife, whom he had married in 1952, was from Southern Rhodesia, and from 1955 to 1961 Fisher was senior master at Peterhouse at Marandellas.[1] Returning briefly to England, he taught at Kent College, Canterbury and Sherborne School, before emigrating to Australia in 1962 to become headmaster of Scotch College, Adelaide,[1][3] travelling on the SS Oronsay.[4] In retirement, Lord Fisher (as Geoffrey Fisher was by then) lived for a time with his son in Adelaide.[5] Charles Fisher was then successively headmaster of Church of England Grammar School, Brisbane, (1970–1973) and Geelong Grammar School (1974–1978).[1][6] In 1976, under Fisher, Geelong Grammar became fully co-educational by merging with The Hermitage and Clyde School.[7]

Fisher Library at Geelong Grammar is named after him.[1] (It is not to be confused with Fisher Library, at the University of Sydney, which is named after a benefactor, Thomas Fisher.) The chapel at Scotch College, Adelaide, which Fisher had built, was renamed the Charles Fisher Memorial Chapel.[8] There is a tablet to Fisher's memory at St Andrew's Church, Trent, Dorset, where both his parents are buried.[9]

## Personal life

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In 1952 Fisher married Anne Gilmour Hammond at Canterbury Cathedral.[1] They had four sons and two daughters.[1]

Fisher died in 1978, when, en route to Timbertop, his car hit a tree near Kanumbra.[1] He was cremated.[1] In 1983 his widow remarried, to the scientist Basil Hetzel.[10]

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Fisher, Charles Douglas (1921–1978)". Australian Dictionary of Biography: Charles Douglas Fisher. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
2. ^ "Church Times: "Many achievements, many distinctions", 22 September 1972, Supplement p 4". Retrieved 1 May 2022.
3. ^ Read, Peter and Pouw-Bray, Alex, Ninety Years at Torrens Park: The Scotch College Story, (2010: Wakefield Press), p 101.
4. ^ "A TEACHER TURNS TO ADELAIDE". Good Neighbour. No. 101\. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 1 June 1962. p. 1. Retrieved 2 May 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
5. ^ "IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA THIS WEEK Where The D.L.P. Got Its Funds". The Canberra Times. Vol. 38, no. 10, 712. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 6 December 1963. p. 2. Retrieved 2 May 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
6. ^ "IN BRIEF". The Canberra Times. Vol. 47, no. 13, 254. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 14 October 1972. p. 3. Retrieved 2 May 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
7. ^ "Geelong Grammar: History and Heritage". Retrieved 1 May 2022.
8. ^ Read, Peter and Pouw-Bray, Alex, Ninety Years at Torrens Park: The Scotch College Story, (2010: Wakefield Press), p 130.
9. ^ "Church Monuments Gazetteer: Dorset 4". Retrieved 1 May 2022.
10. ^ "Research Works: Interview with Anne Gilmour Hetzel". Retrieved 1 May 2022.

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