VALE Chris Eldridge - First Deputy Headmaster of St Philip’s College

Last week I flew to Coolum in Queensland for the funeral service of my first deputy, and wonderful friend Chris Eldridge who had sadly passed away a few days before. 

In my 30 years at St Philip’s, I only had two deputies, both named Chris and both of the highest calibre. I was lucky to be able to appoint them both, because the best outcome for a principal and for the school is if the two leaders can work in close harmony - not doing the same things but definitely being on the same page.

Chris Eldridge, past staff member, Paul Wilson and I started work at Maryborough Christian Community College in country Victoria in January 1979 and quickly struck up a close relationship. Chris and I were given Year 9 classes and taught in neighbouring rooms. We both had strong opinions about teaching and Chris was a gifted teacher, highly committed staff member and was fully engaged in what the school was trying to achieve. 

Maryborough was a small community and we both became involved in sport, opening the bowling together for a local cricket club. Chris was a colourful teacher and had a terrific capacity to relate to students and was magic with the 'naughty' ones. Kids easily liked and respected him. We tackled many projects together from sport, to Outdoor Ed, camping and producing musicals amongst many others. Chris was always prepared to tackle anything to help the school and the kids.

When Chris started at St Philip’s, it was a residential college only, which gave Outback kids the opportunity for an education out of isolation and in Alice Springs where more educational opportunities were on offer. 

The College had experienced its challenges and I had no illusions that running it was going to be a tough ‘gig’, and if I was to make a difference I needed the best deputy. In Chris was someone who was hardworking, dedicated, gifted with kids, respected by staff and parents and someone who had a passion to make a difference to the lives of the children and who was willing to tackle anything. In this instance there was no better person to work with me than Chris. He was married to Jenny a nurse, and they had a baby son, Luke. Coming to Alice was a tough challenge for them, and at the time of his appointment we had known each other for seven years (one of those years he spent in Adelaide studying for a Graduate Diploma in Special Education, a career he followed for years after Alice).

And so we tackled St Philip’s together!  Engendering enthusiasm, upgrading routines, all the while spending time searching for ways to improve the College. It didn’t take long for us to come up with the possibility of adding a transition school where bush kids could come, learn the ropes of boarding, relate to others, make friends, and become comfortable learning in a normal classroom rather than a more isolated environment.

This idea was embraced enthusiastically by the Chair, the College Council and the NT government. Our College Council Chair was “fully committed” to the idea. She had always been keen about a school and the transition school quickly morphed into establishing a day/boarding school. This all occurred about two months after we arrived. 

We ran the College in its present form – which encompassed a lot of work – and we also tackled the massive task of building a school. In the third year, Chris took over running St Philip’s while I undertook the role of 'Planning Principal'. 

Chris was committed to staying for three years, but remained with his family of four for a further six months in 1989, to help launch the school. His contribution to this, as in the previous three years, was absolutely brilliant. He helped set in place expectations and the most important thing the ‘Culture of the College’. Chris was legendary with the 147 new day students - which included some of the 80+ boarders. The other boarders continued to attend other schools in town which was part of the charter of St Philip’s in its mission of providing educational opportunities to isolated children.

Chris Eldridge thought creatively about solving problems; there weren’t problems only solutions. He was multi skilled and students respected that he could kick a football over 55 metres, and could hit a cricket ball a great distance. Former students remember his brilliant lessons complete with his famous cartoons that would appear on the board. Giving it a go was part of his belief, and as a result we learnt to use a mobile diesel welder, a rock drill and compressor, and designed and built an adventure course complete with flying fox. 

Concrete came from left over pours in the town and would arrive at any time. We would leap out of the office, grab shovels and head for the truck. We organised the school’s concrete wicket, put in Australian Rules goal posts and a thousand other things. The development of the school demanded a thousand plans and decisions. Chris more often than not would be at work at 4.30am and would often work through lunch; if stuff had to be done, it had to be done. 

I remember us travelling overnight for an ICPA meeting at Cape Crawford - a big journey, and in 1988 we set out together to recruit our first teaching staff and interviewed around Australia and employed a good pioneering mob. 

Chris’s funeral service was a fine tribute to a terrific person who valued loyalty, hard work, vision, teaching and service with an emphasis on truly caring for students and modelling a positive approach to life. His infectious sense of humour was appreciated by all and lightened the burden of many crises. In those heady years during the mid to late ‘80s in the NT, and with the development of independent schooling, Chris made a significant contribution. He was a great man, a terrific friend and an important person in the history and development of the College.

Chris Tudor AM

College Life Governor