Aspirations of a Leader: A Biographical History

Biography is often construed as life story, life history or memoir. The author who narrates the life of another the biographer may skim the surface to relate the events that occurred during the subject’s life or dig deeply to explore the social and political issues that shaped her/his development. The subject of this biography is a man who grasped opportunity, had vision to lead and courage to implement change. Parallelling the biographical story is one that records an unfolding history of education in Victoria. As it follows the subject’s life it reviews the evolution of secondary schooling, the impact of depression and war and the post war decades of growth. Correspondingly it appraises the lives of others whose leadership roles were significant in Victoria’s educational growth. As the biographer, my attempt to anchor the story in the lived experience of another took me into the subject’s world. His narratives helped me delve into his past to understand the society in which he grew, and influences tha