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Philip Le Couteur | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1885-06-26)26 June 1885 |
| Died | 30 June 1958(1958-06-30) (aged 73) |
| Education | Warrnambool Academy Queen's College, University of Melbourne University College, Oxford. |
| Occupation | Headmaster |
| Spouse(s) | Emma, the daughter ofRev Edward Sugden. |
| Children | Two daughters and three sons includingGeorge Le CouteurOBE |
| Parent(s) | Fanny and George Le Couteur |
Philip Ridgway "Pip" Le Couteur (26 June 1885 – 30 June 1958) was anAustralian academic, philosopher and headmaster.
Le Couteur was born atKyneton, Victoria, the only son of George, apharmaceuticalchemist, and his wife Fanny. Both parents wereMethodist and Australian born. He was educated atMiddle Park State School andWarrnambool Academy before serving a pharmacyapprenticeship.
In 1903 he entered theUniversity of Melbourne to study arts and in 1904 he won aQueen's College residential scholarship. He graduated with aBachelor of Arts in 1906 and was a tripleblue incricket,football andlawn tennis. After beginning a medical degree in 1907 Le Couteur won the VictorianRhodes Scholarship for 1908 and, with a MelbourneMaster of Arts, proceeded toUniversity College, Oxford. He won an Oxford cricket blue and in 1911 a place inWisden for making 160 runs and taking 11 wickets for 69 againstCambridge. He played regularly forGentlemen versus Players and wrote magazines on the psychology of cricket. He was also a member of theOxford String Quartette. Le Couteur then studiedexperimental psychology at theUniversity of Bonn,Germany until early 1913 when he was appointed lecturer in mental and moralphilosophy in the newly establishedUniversity of Western Australia. In that year he married Emma, the musically gifted daughter ofEdward Sugden.
In 1918 Le Couteur was appointed headmaster ofMethodist Ladies' College, Melbourne. The position proved difficult, as control of the school was shared with the foundation president, who was a bulwark against reform. For ten years Le Couteur served on various university committees and school councils and captained theHawthorn-East Melbourne Cricket Club. Unsuccessful in applications for the headship ofSydney Grammar School in 1921 and the mastership of Queen's in 1927, he became headmaster ofHale School in 1929. In 1931 he was appointed headmaster ofNewington College succeeding theRev Dr Charles Prescott. Le Couteur's term at Newington covered the difficultDepression and war years, yet saw a remarkable increase in pupils and the opening of a preparatory school,Wyvern House, in 1938. With his wife Le Couteur developed the school's musical life. On retirement in 1948 he maintained an interest in theFairbridge Farm School movement. He died inGunnedah, New South Wales, and was survived by his wife, two daughters and three sons.
| Preceded by | Headmaster Newington College 1931–1948 | Succeeded by |
