Summary

Game names (and types): Australian Football, Rounders, Hockey Australian Rules (ball games), Spinning Tops, 'Jacks', Hoops (play with equipment/props), 'Allies' (marbles), 'Prisoner's Base' (chasing game), Skipping (skipping game), and 'Fly the Garter', 'Egg Cap', 'Kick the Tins', 'Duck Stone' (unknown types)
Alternative type: bat and ball games

Handwritten, four page letter composed by Claude Beales, a former Physical Education and Science master at Brisbane Boys' College, addressed to Dr Dorothy Howard on 28 September 1958. Beales writes to Dr Howard after reading about her Australian research project in the 'School Magazine'. He discusses his teaching experience and his perception of students in Victoria, Queensland, New Zealand, England and Scotland. He writes about the popularity of Australian Rules Football amongst youth in Victoria, stating that the absence of a proper ball can be remedied with a pig's bladder or a bundle of rubbish tied together. Beales lists some games played seasonally in Victoria including spinning tops and the marbles game 'Allies'. He states that other games such as 'Fly the Garter', 'Egg Cap', 'Kick the Tins', 'Duck Stone', 'Prisoner's Base', Rounders, Hockey Australian Rules and hoops are played all year. Beales continues with an analysis of the impact of Roman Catholic schooling on the behaviour and games played by children in Queensland. In conclusion, he discusses his own 'Scottish' style of education, which encouraged children to pursue their interests and skills irrespective of the standard curriculum.

One of a collection of letters written to and from children's Folklorist Dr Dorothy Howard between 1954 and 1995. Dr Howard came to Australia in 1954-55 as an American Fulbright scholar to study Australian children's folklore. She travelled across Australia for 10 months collecting children's playground rhymes, games, play artefacts, etc. The original fieldwork she collected during this period is held in the Australian Children's Folklore Collection (ACFC) at Museum Victoria and includes index cards, letters and photographs.

Physical Description

Four page, handwritten letter in blue on paper. Each page features a letterhead with associated text along upper portion. Text printed on one side only.

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