Chapter 39 Newspaper Release
September 27, 1900, the streets of Sydney.
That day, David Collis was walking home from work as usual. As an ordinary man with no special skills, David had been lucky enough to be selected and hired as a Sydney police recruit.
Although he was still in training, he was already earning more than two pounds a month—enough to support his family.
Getting this job made David very content, and each day he threw himself into training with enthusiasm and energy.
As he passed a newsstand, David instinctively glanced over. What had meant to be a casual look turned into surprise when he noticed the stand was filled with copies of the same newspaper. Next to them stood a small sign that read, "New Policy from His Highness!"
Wait—His Highness?
David paused, turned back, grabbed a copy of the newspaper, and handed over a penny to the vendor, who was watching him quietly.
Holding the newspaper, David no longer had the carefree air he'd shown a moment ago. Though he continued walking, his eyes were locked intensely on the page, as if trying to absorb every word.
After ten long minutes, he finally made it home.
It was a modest house in the suburbs of Sydney. Though a bit run-down, it had been decorated with simple flowers and plants by the Collis family, giving it a warm and cozy feel.
"David!" his wife called out as she heard him enter. She came out smiling, handed him a glass of water, and asked, "How was training today? The officer didn't give you a hard time, did he?"
"Haha, not at all. Training went great, and the boss handed out this month's wages. Look—two pounds, five shillings, and three pence!" David beamed as he handed over the money.
"Oh! Thank God. With your job and the free grain we received, we'll have a comfortable New Year for sure," his wife said joyfully.
"You should be thanking His Highness, Emily. Without him, you wouldn't have received so much food for free, and I wouldn't have landed such a well-paying job," David quickly corrected her.
"Oh, you're right. Forgive me," Emily said with a sincere nod, realizing her mistake.
"Alright, Emily. Go start dinner. I want to read this newspaper properly. They say His Highness has announced a new policy," David said, picking up the paper he'd been holding tightly the whole way home.
After unifying all state publications, Arthur had consolidated Australia's previously chaotic newspaper industry under his control.
Now there were two major newspapers in Australia: the Australian Daily, which focused on lifestyle and entertainment, and the Victoria News, which reported on politics and government affairs.
While the two papers typically covered different topics, they both printed major royal or governmental announcements when needed.
The newspaper David held was the Victoria News. But since this was a special occasion, both newspapers shared identical front-page content.
The headline stood out in bold: His Highness Arthur's New Education Policy.
When it came to education, David had always paid attention. Now he focused even harder, reading every word with complete concentration.
The article was simple in structure. It summarized several reforms and welfare policies Arthur had introduced to improve education.
In addition to the university enrollment plans already announced, Arthur committed to investing at least two million pounds per year, over a ten-year period, to encourage all Australian families to send school-age children to school.
To this end, the royal family would cover at least 40% of each student's tuition. For students who performed well, all tuition and fees would be waived entirely.
To support struggling families, Arthur also promised interest-free loans for education expenses.
Furthermore, scholarships would be established in every school nationwide, awarded to approximately 10% of each school's total enrollment.
Under these wide-reaching policies, students pursuing both basic and higher education would benefit greatly. The long-standing problem of "wanting to study but not being able to afford it" would be practically eliminated.
It was easy to imagine that a new wave of school enrollment was on the horizon—especially in basic education, which cost almost nothing. Attendance was bound to surge.
Though most Australians were poor, they were, after all, immigrants from Europe. They understood the value of education—especially foundational education.
If given a choice, many parents would prefer to provide their children with proper schooling, ensuring they didn't fall behind others from the start.
"Oh! Emily! Emily! Come quickly!" David shouted, unable to contain himself.
"What is it? What happened?" Emily rushed over, startled by his urgency.
"Look at this, Emily! His Highness is investing in education. Now our son can go to school!" David said excitedly.
"Where, where?" Emily leaned in, scanning the page.
"The royal family promises to pay 70% of tuition, and the remaining 30% will be covered in advance—repaid after graduation depending on the student's performance?" Emily read aloud, eyes filled with disbelief.
"A scholarship program at the Australian National University will award at least 200 students of good character a minimum of ten pounds per year?" she continued, then turned to her husband in shock. "David, that's nearly half your yearly income! Are you saying university doesn't just cost nothing—it actually pays?"
"Yes, my dear. Not only does Rick have a chance to attend university—we might not even have to pay for it," David said with a firm nod.
Rick Collis was David and Emily's only son—and their greatest pride.
At just nineteen, Rick was already a high school graduate, admired by all. But the family had never been able to afford the high cost of university, forcing them to give up on that dream.
Now, it seemed Rick might actually have a chance to attend university—and perhaps even do so for free.
(End of Chapter)
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