It is fascinating hearing the stories of new schools and of course all schools which are members of the AISNT are relatively new, the oldest, Marrara, commencing in 1979.This year has seen some really new schools joining AISNT which is wonderful. There are some common themes in this journey of starting a school and these are: passion, vision which includes a clear reason, drive, enthusiasm, determination, courage, the ability to regroup on a failure or knock back and a determination not to give up. Tied in with this are the willingness to chase knowledge and understanding, the willingness to listen and to accept help, advice and assistance.

Certainly, this pioneering will not work without a capacity to work constructively and sensitively with others. A school will also not be successful unless there is a clear understanding of the needs and wants of the community it is going to serve. Nothing will be achieved unless pioneers are willing to embroil themselves in exercising initiative. There is no room in pioneering a school for leaders who are ‘gonnas’ (I’m gonna do this and do nothing).

Of all these essential factors one of the most powerful and interesting is the clear reason for starting a school. The Lutherans have such a reason. Lutheran schools have always been part of Lutheran communities and part of their Church’s lifelong engagement with its people. A Lutheran pioneer pointed out to me that those involved had often experienced Lutheran Education themselves and wished for their children to experience the same. It wasn’t because they were dissatisfied with the Government Schooling or the other operating Independent Schools they simply wanted Lutheran Education. To them the strong link between the school and the church provided an environment desirable for their children. Furthermore, a Lutheran School, through its very name and beliefs has strong links for many people who could trace their heritage back to Germany.

Obviously Australia, being a strongly multicultural country, has a population that can trace its ancestry to so many different countries and cultures, and this link has vastly enriched Australia as a strong, diverse and extremely interesting community. Many Lutheran families bear names which are distinctly German which is an ongoing reminder of heritage as it is for everybody. Many German people immigrated to Australia in the nineteenth century, some before January 1871 when the states, ruled by various princes, became a federation, though each with its own particular identity, which is maintained even today, into what has become known as Germany.

The first organised German immigration to South Australia was in 1838 and was a group of religious refugees from Silesia led by Pastor August Kavel. Victoria’s first German immigrants arrived in 1849 under a British bounty to attract vineyard workers. They settled near Melbourne then expanded across Victoria into South Australia. German immigrants settled in Queensland and eventually the Northern Territory and indeed ran significant Missions such as Hermansburg near Alice Springs. If one travels through country Australia the influence of German settlers will appear often in the form of a church and a school in towns or indeed in farming areas.

The church may appear in what seems the middle of nowhere away from a town, structure lovingly built on land donated by a farmer who was a Lutheran. Schools would also appear, isolated in the same way and for the same reason. In wishing to encourage the children to maintain their heritage the early schools taught in German. However during the First World War this ceased and in fact most Lutheran schools closed. However, after the War, by 1927, most were reopened, but instruction was then principally in English.

There are pioneers who wish to create schools that embrace particular religious beliefs. The schools which belong to the Christian School’s Association are examples of these.

Whilst vision, fired by passion and enthusiasm are essential to the success of Independent Schools, strategic plans must be well considered and sound. With the generous funding for capital works available in the early days from the Territory Government, the temptation was not to try and raise funds independently as well. Fortunately, there are great examples of Independent School fundraising and of the discipline required to do this in our small and potentially fragile sector.

Pioneering Independent Schools also requires lateral thinking to establish a model or enterprise that will be successful in the long term. The example of the Anglicans and the Uniting Church combining over Kormilda was certainly that. None of the schools in AISNT is large or indeed wealthy.

None have the benefit of a 100 years of history or indeed of significant foundations. All the schools charge moderate to low fees - the Education market is unlikely to be able to sustain high fee schools like those that exist in the capital and regional cities elsewhere in Australia.

The schools needed the influence of the Association of Independent Schools to continually champion the case for adequate government funding both with the NT government and through Independent Schools Australia in Canberra. The process of dealing with government is a specialised one and experience, good relationships, understanding of the funding models and the relevant political and public service processes is essential. ISA’s capacity has been immense and it employs staff of the highest caliber, able to play “ball” on the complicated Canberra court. In the NT, AISNT’s executive directors were mostly in the position fora lengthy time and built strong relationships and a huge amount of knowledge.

It was essential for developing schools to gain the best advice on government funding for without adequate funding it would be very unlikely that any of the schools would survive.

Whilst the public debate often drifts towards Independent Schools being wealthy and for the elite, this is definitely a myth in the Territory. The right for parents to choose is fundamental in an education policy supported by both the main sides of politics. The desire is for the Territory to have a reasonable choice such as people do in the more populated areas.

To be continued...

Chris Tudor,

Principal Liaison & AISNT Historian