Farewell, former Headmaster of The Scots School, Mr John Hunter
The Scots All Saints College community has been saddened to learn of the recent death of John Hunter. Mr Hunter was Headmaster of The Scots School for 17 years, 1974-1990, and presided over a period of rapid expansion and development for the school. Mr Hunter, who was the school’s longest serving Headmaster, passed away on 29 September 2025, just shy of his 90th birthday. He was farewelled at a service in St John’s Anglican Church Moss Vale that was attended by his family, former staff of The Scots School and a large contingent of his past students.
Born in England in 1935, John attended The Lees School. At age 15 he joined the Royal Navy rising rapidly through the ranks, at one stage being the youngest Commander in the Navy. Having met and married Vicky, with whom he was together for 65 years, Mr Hunter decided that with a wife and young family he needed a different lifestyle from the many moves of the Navy. He studied at Cambridge University, qualifying as a Geography teacher. After some time teaching in Britain, the family made the move to Australia in 1969. Mr Hunter initially was at Tudor House at Moss Vale, but in 1971 took up an appointment as Geography teacher at The Scots School and Housemaster of Bulkeley House.
When Michael Aikman left Scots at the end of 1973, John Hunter was appointed as Headmaster. At that time the school had an enrolment of 230 boys. It peaked at 386 boys in 1986, a figure not equalled until three decades later during David Gates’ Headmastership. The school also became a serious force in Western Associated Schools (WAS) sport, being the WAS champions in a number of sports several times during Mr Hunter’s incumbency. The Scots School was WAS Tennis champion for every one of his years as Headmaster. The school also achieved a very high level of academic success. Mr Hunter was also a great promoter of the performing arts and under his stewardship the school re-entered the Bathurst Eisteddfod and enjoyed performances of Shakespeare plays, musicals and a Year 7 Drama Festival.
John Hunter left Scots at the end of 1990. He was for a time Secretary of the NSW branch of the National Party, but soon returned to teaching as a Geography teacher at Kinross-Wolaroi, and a relief teacher at Scots. In later years, he and Vicky developed a partnership as dog trainers, first at their property on Limekilns Road, then on the Southern Highlands to where they moved a few years ago. They continued their association with Scots and Scots All Saints College.
John and Vicky attended the Highland Gathering several times, with John being Chieftain in 2016. He was also a guest speaker at Speech Day.
Mr Hunter is survived by wife Vicky, sons David, James, Michael and Andrew, twelve grandchildren and one great grandchild. John’s son James visited Scots All Saints College in 2024 as the guest speaker at the inaugural Leadership Lunch where he remarked on the example his father had set and his ideas on leadership.
