Ronald S. Horan

Ron Horan was born in Sydney and had his secondary education at Fort Street

Boys High School just before and in the early years of the Second World War.

He then entered the Faculty of Arts at The University of Sydney but interrupted

his studies to serve in the Royal Australian Air Force for three years. After the

war he completed his Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in French (Honours)

and German. He also gained a Diploma in Education. After a short appointment

at Sydney Boys High School he joined the staff of Fort Street, where he taught

for 36 years. Many of those years were spent as modern languages master

and later as deputy principal. His teaching subjects were French, German and

English.

Throughout his career, Ron demonstrated great practical concern for correct

English spelling, the importance of which is often neglected in schools. As

a practical guide for students he compiled the Fort Street Speller, which is

presented to all pupils upon their arrival at the school. The guide has made its

way into many avenues of public administration.

Ron Horan has also been actively involved in the broader sphere of education.

He served for ten years as a teacher and deputy principal at the Eastwood

Evening College and then for another 22 years as its principal. His contribution

to the teaching of foreign languages has been important. With a co-authors,

he has published French and German course books, which are widely used

in Australia and around the world. He served on many education committees,

and was president of the Australian Federation of Modern Language Teachers

Associations. Ron was posthumously awarded the OAM in 2000.

Born 27 September 1924

Died 7 September 1999