C. F. Argyll Saxby

C. F. Argyll Saxby was born in the United Kingdom, the son of Scottish author, Jessie M. E. Saxby. She was born in June 1842 and became a prolific author, writing articles and stories for a wide number of publications including the Boys’ Own Paper and several children’s books but was best known for folklore, natural history and contemporary life on the Shetland Isles (Kirpatrick, Encyclopaedia 292). Saxby lived in Canada before teaching as a schoolmaster in places including Cyprus, Syria and India. He served in the First World War. He wrote adventure serials for the Boys’ Own Paper, several of which were published as full length novels (Doyle, Who's Who of Boys' Writers and Illustrators 62). Saxby spent some time living in Victoria. In total, Saxby wrote over ten children’s novels, mostly colonial adventures set in countries including Canada.

Kookaburra Jack: A Story of Australian School Life. London: "The Boy's Own Paper" Office, 1924. 254 pages. Illustrated 'Arthur Twidle', b/w frontis. & 5 b/w illus.

Kookaburra Jack is an Australian boys’ school story which utilises many British public school motifs such as sport, school politics, the role of the Head and discipline, to create a vivid portrayal of Melbourne public school life. The story follows the adventures of fifteen-year-old Jack Hosgood, otherwise known as ‘Kookaburra Jack’, at Yarra Grammar School where he is a day boy. Jack is head of a secret society called ‘The Push’ or ‘The Kookaburra Push’. Secret societies were popular motifs that featured secret meetings and disguised identities. However the Push is unique in its aims and influence. In the past the society has used its power to remove unsuitable masters from the school and is currently engaged in a state of war with Mr ‘Dingo’ Cairns. The society is placed on hold when Jack is forced to leave school after his father disappears. Jack meets a mysterious old man in the park, ‘the old digger’ who offers to become his benefactor, and Jack returns to Yarra as a boarder, on a twelve-month probation as the old man’s heir. Jack immediately makes plans for The Push. In the upcoming school elections he wants a new Captain elected instead of the incumbent Webb, whom he thinks is too much of a bookworm, and not enough of a sportsman.

This view reflects the contemporary attitude of idolizing sports stars in school over academic success. The Push’s plans are successful, and Deane, a popular sportsman, is elected. However Jack’s opinion of Webb begins to change when Webb rescues Deane from the school flagpole after the traditional School Captain celebrations go horribly wrong. The Push intervene when Webb begins to mix with some of the undesirable types at Yarra. The old digger finds Jack’s father, who turns out to be his own son. Jack finally acknowledges Webb’s true sportsmanship and before he disbands the Push his last task is to see Webb elected Captain when Deane leaves.

Kookaburra Jack was reprinted.