12 minute read
Stepping into history
EMMA CHANDLER, PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR
Through the eyes of teachers and the ‘first girls’ themselves, we explore the lasting impact of co-education and the changing landscape of education at a time of social transformation.
On the first day of Term 1, 1974, six little girls walked through the school gates and into Campbell House on their first day at The Geelong College – each too young to fully grasp the moment’s significance.
The first day of school is a milestone for any child – filled with excitement, nerves, and promise. But for these girls, it was more than that. It was history in the making.
With shiny new shoes, neatly brushed hair, and freshly pressed uniforms, these pint-sized pioneers stepped through the doors of their classrooms and into a new chapter for The Geelong College. They were the ‘first girls’ of co-education, breaking new ground in an era of change and progress.
There were four Prep students –Jo Mallick, Catherine Black, Andy Pratchett, and Libby Apsted – and two Year 1 students, Katherine Armstrong (née Hatton) and Amanda Nissman. The only girls, College-wide, in a sea of over 700 boys.
Their reflections offer a unique glimpse into this transformative chapter of our history.
“I was the youngest, and my siblings had already gone to school,” said Andy. “I think I was probably extremely excited.”
“I was just hoping it was going to be better than kindergarten!” laughed Catherine.
The significance of the day was immortalised by the Geelong Advertiser, which photographed Jo and Catherine as they entered their classroom for the first time.
“Looking back, it was quite an event!” Jo recalled. “And maybe for the teachers and the older boys, it was. But I didn’t know that at the time. To me – I was just starting my first day of school.
“I just remember being little. Everything was so big and new, and I was just curious.”
For Katherine, another of the inaugural Prep students, the importance of the moment has only become clear with time.
“I was only five, so I don’t recall it being significant. But looking back as an adult, it’s pretty amazing. I’ll always be a part of that history.”
Meeting the boys
The introduction of girls to the school brought a noticeable shift, especially for the older primary school boys who had grown accustomed to an all-boys environment.
Some greeted the change with wideeyed intrigue, unsure of how to interact with the newcomers. Others embraced it with the unfiltered enthusiasm of childhood, forming instant friendships over shared games.
For the boys in the Prep class, however, the girls were just an ordinary part of their class.
“It was their first year in school, too, so I don’t suppose they knew any different,” said Jenny George, teacher of the 1974 ‘Prep’ class (now known as ‘Foundation’).
For the Year 1 boys, their second year of school was looking a little different to their first – with two girls added to their class.
“I remember the teacher saying, you’ve got to be especially kind to the girls,” said Libby.
“The first day was quite funny because we were fine in the classroom.
“But then recess came.
“I remember that we all lined up against the classroom wall, waiting to be allowed to go, and it was just a mass of boys. I started to feel quite nervous.
“But then I remember thinking: this is crazy. They’re just like my brothers. Let’s just go!
“So we just ran out and started playing in the playground – and it was all fine from then on!”
Settling into school life
Jenny described the seamless way her Prep students came together.
“The girls, they just fitted in. I don’t remember treating them any differently than the boys,” she said.
With her inclusive approach, the girls quickly felt at home.
Given their young age, Jenny had to find creative ways to keep her students engaged each day.
“We used to go for a walk in the afternoons. We’d go up to the (Middle School) swimming pool and do a nature walk in the afternoons – or else they’d fall asleep!”
These walks were much enjoyed by the Preps, though, for Jo, it was on one of these adventures that the reality of being one of the ‘first girls’ truly struck for the first time.
“I remember walking up the path and just looking around at the bigger kids. It must have been recess because they were all out on the oval. I looked out at all the grey uniforms, and realised: They’re all boys.
“That’s probably the first time I realised that we really were the only girls there.”
Storytime with Mrs George, too, was a fond favourite among her students. They would hang on her every word, and were loathe to miss a moment –sometimes to their own detriment, as Catherine recalls.
“We were sitting and listening to Mrs George read. It was a story about penguins, and I was so enraptured. But, the next minute, I got a terrible pain in my stomach – I just sort of keeled over in agony.
“The school let my mum know, and she took me home. It wasn’t until she was putting me to bed that I realised that I wasn’t sick at all – I actually just badly needed to go to the toilet! After that, I was fine! I’d just been so involved in the story that I hadn’t even realised I needed to go!
“I never did hear the end of that story!” she laughed.
Fun and games
The girls’ time at College was full of learning and play, but also a fair share of mischief and adventure.
“We had a teepee in the classroom next to a cupboard that housed the band-aids,” Katherine reminisced.
“Jo and I were playing in the teepee with a boy called Rohan. I remember getting every band-aid in the pack and putting them up his leg – and then getting in trouble for using them all.
“I ended up becoming a nurse when I finished school. Maybe that was the start of my career!”
Outside of the classroom, too, the girls pushed boundaries.
“We had to get our shots for Rubella,” recalled Jo. “It was at a clinic just over in Ruthven Street, and the teachers just said: ‘Oh off you go. Just walk there.’
“No teacher. Nothing. Just us.
“And of course, we didn’t know where we were going! Katherine thought she knew the way...but she didn’t! So we were just wandering around in circles for ages until the teachers finally came looking for us in the car!
“I don’t think that would be allowed now!”
“I think we had more freedom than today’s students. There were all sorts of games and projects that we embarked on that would probably be OH&S risks these days,” said Andy, recalling the billy cart they had built.
Named ‘The Flying Bomb’, it had been Andy and Catherine’s entry into a race against the boys.
“We came straight down that hill as fast as we could go – and we didn’t have any brakes!”, said Catherine.
“It was great fun, but most importantly – we beat the boys!” Andy added.
It seemed adventure and engineering were a common theme of their school days. At lunchtime, the girls enjoyed building cubby houses in the yard, using wood and other materials onhand.
However, they also recall the particularly ambitious construction that brought their cubby-building days to an end.
“We got in big trouble because we had made it multistorey. It was so tall...and we definitely did not have construction experience. I think we were banned after that!” said Andy.
“That’s actually one of my favourite memories,” Catherine laughed.
“Mr. Macmillan going nuts because we were so high up the tree. I still remember him shouting: ‘Get down! Get down! It’s not meant to be taller than ME!’ In hindsight, though, he was stressed for very good reason!”
School sport, too, was a firm favourite of the ‘first girls’.
“I remember being astonished I had managed to get a record for backstroke – when I actually thought I’d almost drowned!
“But...in hindsight, I was probably the only one in the race, and it was probably the first record that they’d ever given to a girl!“ Catherine said.
In many ways, girls and boys were considered equal – in the classroom and the playground. But there were some exceptions.
“The boys used to play British Bulldogs on the oval at lunch. The game was pretty physical – if you got tagged, they’d drag you to the ground.
“A friend and I went over to see if we could play. The boys had a quick meeting to discuss what they would do if the girls joined in, then decided: ‘We’ll just tag them, but we’re not allowed to drag them to the ground.’ And that’s how we were included in the game.”
School Camps and Connections
Ask any student about their favourite school memories, and school camp is likely to be a highlight – and the ‘first girls’ were no different. The trips they took helped to strengthen and foster friendships while providing each girl with unforgettable memories.
Katherine still remembers their first school camp: “up on the top oval in Middle School.”
Their teacher also enjoyed the trips.
“Well, the things I enjoyed most, apart from teaching, were all the camps I went on with them,” said Jenny.
“Because I had come from a farm, I was the only woman teacher that could ride a horse. So I went on the horse riding camps – which were terrific – and other camps too.
“I think children really remember those things, perhaps even more than what they learned in class. It’s the experiences. We all learn, but it’s the fun things that then shape how you use it.”
Growing numbers of girls
Eventually, the first year of coeducation came to an end. With each subsequent year, more girls enrolled at the College.
“We were all friends because there weren’t any groups – there was just ‘us’. When more girls came, there were just more people to play with. It didn’t really change anything,” said Jo.
“The gender thing wasn’t an issue. So having more girls wasn’t really a conscious bonus. It was exciting to meet new people, but it didn’t matter if it were boys or girls,” Catherine said.
The increase in numbers brought with it new opportunities for the girls.
“The school adjusted with different activities,” recalled Katherine. “Netball was introduced and I remember doing sewing as an after-school activity.
“Classes became probably more balanced – not even, but more balanced. Girls just became part of the school population.”
Changing times
We invited our first girls, along with their teacher, back to the College for a special visit earlier this year.
Though the school they remembered had changed a great deal, it was heartwarming to see that some things have not. Jenny George slipped easily back into ‘teacher’ mode, as she read a story to our students. And, just like her class of 1974 - the children hung on her every word.
When asked to reflect on how the experiences of today’s students would contrast with their own, the girls offered interesting perspectives.
“In terms of opportunities – I don’t know that it does differ that much. I like to think that we’ve all been offered the opportunities that the school could give us at the time, which was just relative to the generation we were in.
“I look at the College now, and it’s amazing. But it was amazing when I was there, too,” Katherine said.
The increased diversity of career pathways is something Libby is happy to see.
“At the time I was there, there was a lot of focus on academia. I remember when Guy Pearce left school to pursue a career in acting – it was a bit frowned upon. But look at him now!
“I think it’s important to have the confidence and faith in yourself to follow your own direction and have the educational backing to do it well.
“The ‘right’ path can look very different between one person and the next.”
A legacy of learning
Looking back on those early years, the girls took a lot from their time at College.
“I think it gave me the confidence to mix in all sorts of different circles,” Catherine said. “I’ve worked with women living on the streets, but I also work with funders and, sometimes, politicians. Just having the confidence to interact with a bunch of different people.”
The breadth of experiences and options were the highlight of her time at College.
“Being given lots of opportunities means that you can find the things that you like. You might not even realise it at the time, but you take it with you,” she said.
As The Geelong College celebrates 50 years of co-education, the legacy of these pioneering girls – and their teacher, Jenny – remains a testament to the enduring values of inclusion, opportunity, and experience. Their stories continue to inspire, and the path they helped build has paved the way for future generations.
Watch online
Take a look at our video ‘The Stories of Change: Celebrating 50 Years of Co-Education’ - a touching depiction of our rich history, as told through personal narratives and symbolic imagery.
