Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Hawkins, James

Educator, administrator; born Melbourne, 3 April 1916; died Melbourne, 23 December 2004, aged 88.

James Hawkins is remembered for being one of the more significant Jesuits in the ministry of education in his era. The advice he gave to a beginning regent in 1964 was, 'be firm, fair and aloof'. This indicated his own relationships with his students, reflecting a balance between familiarity and distance.

He was educated at St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, before joining the Society on 8 February 1933. His ecclesiastical studies were in Australia at Watsonia and Pymble, and he obtained an arts degree in classical philology from the University of Melbourne at the end of 1940. Regency was at Xavier College, 1941-43, where he was an assistant prefect, taught English, Latin, Greek and religion, as well as in charge of the senior mission group, and junior games.

After a year of teaching and first division prefect at Xavier College in 1948, he was sent to tertianship at Watsonia in 1949. The following years, 1950-59, were at St Louis' School, Perth, as first division prefect and sportsmaster, debating master, and taught Latin and religion, English, geography and history, 1950-51, before becoming rector in 1952. In this role he was on the Public Exams Board as the representative of the Headmasters of Independent Schools. He was an inaugural member of the Australian College of Education, and was responsible for the new chapel and playing fields at the college. He was remembered as a strong disciplinarian during these years, but commanded respect for his fairness. He played no favourites.

He returned to Xavier College, 1960-74, as first division prefect, sports master and teacher of English, Latin and religion. He was appointed rector in June 1968, taught religion, and was the provincial adviser for education. As rector of Xavier, his decision to revamp the House system was motivated by the importance he attached to pastoral care for the individual student. He also developed the concept of community among all those associated with the school, and fostered modern ideas about teaching religion during the turbulent years after the Second Vatican Council. In 1974 he became headmaster of Burke Hall.

Hawkins was a reflective man, and from his Xavier experience, wanted Jesuit ministries to become more helpful to families. So, with the help of a scholastic, he set up the Family Integration Project, 1975-77, working on practical ways to integrate the work of the two Jesuit parishes and schools on the lower North Shore to develop family life. He was also active in assisting personnel in all Jesuit schools, where he always commanded respect.

When this project ended, he was sent to St Aloysius' College, Milson's Point, 1978-79, and it was here that he ended his classroom teaching days.

Always striving for a wider vision of education, Hawkins believed that the Society should be more closely involved with Catholic education more widely. In this spirit, he became principal of the diocesan school, Thomas More College, North Salisbury, South Australia, 1980-82, while living at Athelstone. This experience convinced him even more of this need of greater collaboration between the Society and Catholic education; so, 1983-88, while rector of Athelstone, he worked at the Catholic Education Office in Adelaide. He particularly enjoyed this work of collaboration, sharing his Ignatian insights, and learning about more general issues facing Catholic education such as government funding.

Within Jesuit schools, it was Hawkins who first coined the phrase, 'Ignatianisation'. He was convinced that Jesuits needed to share their heritage with staff, families and students in a more aggressive form. He even suggested that Jesuit superiors might become 'arrowheads thrusting their communities into the apostolate' - an image that caused some mirth.

Hawkins was a great challenger, suggesting, never compelling, and inspiring others to think freely and widely. In his listening, reflecting, and sharing, he was a respected inspiration.

During his later years, 1989-2004, living at the Provincial Residence, he was minister, bursar and spiritual father at various times. He gave more attention to his love of sport, Australian Rules football and golf, as well as playing cards. His eyesight gradually began to fail, and finally his general health. He died unexpectedly while rehabilitating after a short illness at St George's Hospital, Kew. Hawkins had been one of the great ‘schools men’ of the province.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)