Profiling Ralph Wilson: Principal 1970 - 1981

Ralph Wilson was principal when I was at the school between 1971 and 1976. He was affectionately called "Horrie" Wilson and was famous for knowing everybody's name.  The school photos were taken early in the year and Wilson look the time to memorise everyone.  It was a nerve-wracking experience, as a junior student, to be walking along the corridors and be greeted by the principal by name.  Especially when there were some 800 students in the school!

Wilson was a well known public figure in Canberra and received the Order of Australia in 1988 for services to the Performing Arts.  The Ralph Wilson Theatre in Gorman House is named after him.   He was also named The Canberra Times Canberran of the Year in 1988 for his "remarkable contributions to the fields of education and theatre in the ACT". 

Ralph Campbell Wilson was born in Newcastle in 1917, the son of a working-class family. At school he excelled in languages, then studied at Sydney University, where he became involved in theatrical scene, as well as in politics and unionism.  In 1949 he married Antonia Venn in Sydney and in 1954 they moved to Canberra. They had a son Kyle and a daughter, Harriette.  

Wilson originally taught at Telopea Park School and became the Language Master at Canberra High for many years. He was appointed principal of Canberra High School in 1970. While principal, Wilson introduced many innovations including the American Approach to timetabling and the introduction of the Activities afternoon where a wide range of options were available.  I remember learning to shoot a rifle at a target range on Mount Majura as an Activity one year!    During the Wilson years, the change over from the NSW Education System to the ACT Schools Authority occurred and Canberra High became a year 7 to Year 10 High School from 1977.

Wilson's leisure hours were devoted to theatre. His great loves included German, French and Russian literature,and  European cinema. Classical music, wine and Scotch whisky.

Wilson produced over 200 plays for the Canberra stage and a theatre in Gorman House was named after him. Some of his notable productions were Gogol’s The Government Inspector, Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, and Brecht’s Mother Courage. The last production he undertook was Beckett’s play Footfalls. Programs of these productions are available in the ACT Heritage Library.

With Philip Mackenzie he founded the Classical Theatre Ensemble in the 1980s. Among this group’s productions were Tartouffe, The Country Wife and Lysistrata.

Wilson died on 28th May 1994.