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The Right Reverend Dr. Matthew Blagden Hale was Bishop of Perth and, later, of Brisbane. He was a social and educational pioneer, noted for advocating the protection of Australia's Aborigenes, who, he remarked, were "real sports and behaved like gentlemen". He was also the founder of Western Australia's oldest boys' school, modelled after England's public schools, which was later renamed Hale School in his honour.
Hale was the son of Robert and Lady Theodina Bourke (nee Bourke). His maternal grandfather was the Archbishop of Tuam. After completing his education at Wolton-under-Edge, he attended Trinity College, Cambridge, and obtained his B.A. in 1835 and M.A. in 1838. He was eventually conferred an Hon. D. D. as well.
Ordained as Deacon in 1836, and Priest in 1837, Hale became Archdeacon of Adelaide in 1847. He was consecrated on 25 July 1857 as the first Bishop of Perth at the Lambeth Palace Chapel, an office he held until 1875, whereupon he became Bishop of Brisbane until 1885.
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