The Cluthan - 2018

The Cluthan OCTOBER 2018

Clyde Old Girls’ Association Inc Registered Number: A0028536K

THE PRESIDENT AND COMMITTEE OF THE CLYDE OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION INC (COGA) INVITE YOU TO THE COGA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND OLD GIRLS’ DAY LUNCH

SUNDAY 14 OCTOBER 2018 at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, 489 Glenferrie Road, Kooyong PROGRAM 10.30am 11.00am 11.45am 12.20-2.30pm

– – – –

Arrival and morning tea Annual General Meeting Guest speaker: Sue Schudmak (Sproat Cl’64) Old Girls’ Day lunch Cost: $35 per person

Please RSVP by 4 October using the yellow form inside the Cluthan

************************** ‘Travelling and surviving in vintage cars around the world’. Sue Schudmak and her husband Phillip have travelled extensively around Australia, the UK, Europe, Eastern Europe, the USA, Japan, the Arabian Gulf and South Africa to name but a few of the countries they have visited. She will talk of her experiences and the challenges of driving and navigating in 1920s open cars for weeks on end.

GUEST SPEAKER COGA 2018 AGM

AGM 2017

Sue Schudmak (Sproat) nursed in Australia and overseas for a number of years before marrying and having two children. She has always been passionately interested in the environment and has been involved with numerous organisations and on a number of committees.

When her husband retired almost 20 years ago they decided to combine their love of travel and vintage car motoring and take off around Australia and the world. Much of their travelling has been in a 1924 Bentley and a 1927 Bugatti.

L-R: Deb Calvert (Moore), Jackie Mackinnon (Kelly), Amanda Elliott (Bayles), Pru Hunter

Ed: Sue has been a tireless worker and committee member for COGA over many years. Serving as President 1993-94, then Treasurer 2005-9, and coordinator of the Database since 2005, Sue also coconvened the publication of the history book, “Clyde School: An Uncommon History� (2006), providing her home for meetings and diligently assisting the book committee and author with photo research and layout of the final product. With her mind for meticulous detail and organisation, she has been involved in helping edit the Cluthan for more than 20 years and has kept COGA up to date with its corporate documents and responsibilities. We have no idea how she has found time to travel the world on eccentric adventures in superb old cars!

L-R: Cas Bennetto, Elizabeth Landy (Manifold), Elizabeth Smart (Goode)

L-R: Sue Home (Maberly Smith), Fiona Caro (Macleod), Susanna Allen (Hogg), Jenny Blencowe (Hogg), Debo McNab (Grimwade), Dallas Kinnear (Heath), Jane Loughnan (Weatherly), Tim Street (Gillespie) Jackie Mackinnon (Kelly), Hilary Blakiston (Heath), photo bomber Neale Fraser!

2

Clyde Old Girls’ Association Inc ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AGENDA 2018 1.

2.

3.

4.

Apologies Minutes Business Arising President’s Report

5.

6.

7.

Treasurer’s Report Other Business Election of 2018/2019 Committee

2017 – 2018 COMMITTEE MEMBERS Margie Gillett (Cordner) President Light Blue Coordinator 03 9525 3698 gillett22@bigpond.com

Fern Henderson (Welsh) Vice President 03 5989 2664 davhendo3@bigpond.com

Peta Gillespie Treasurer 03 5333 4324 pmg252@gmail.com

Trish Young Secretary 0414 235 316 tyoung@smsmt.com

Katrina Carr (Moore) Clyde House Liaison 07 3374 0196 ksocarr@gmail.com

Elizabeth Landy (Manifold) 03 5663 2220 elizabethlandy@bigpond.com

Sally Powe (Douglas) 0412 223 266 sallylmacgpowe@gmail.com

Di Whittakers (Moore) 03 5882 1143 burnimadeni@bigpond.com

Ann Stoney (Peardon) 0407 324 507 annestoney@gmail.com

EDITORIAL NEWS AND INFORMATION THE CLUTHAN

Please send Cluthan contributions to: Julia Ponder, 15/89A Bay Terrace, Wynnum 4178 (T) 07 3348 6644 (E) julia@comart.com.au or (E) coganews@gmail.com. The closing date for next year’s news, reports and obituaries is 30 June 2019. If you would like a copy of your submission so you can proof read it I can send you the pages as they will appear in the Cluthan – corrections are due back by the end of July.

Thank you to those who have contributed stories, reports and news in this Cluthan as these are greatly appreciated by our readers. My grateful thanks to Margie Gillett (Cordner) and Sue Schudmak (Sproat) for all their help with research, writing, editing, proof reading and distribution of the final copy.

Thank you to the Old Geelong Grammarians' Association who are generously funding the printing, to Geelong Grammar School for the postage for the Cluthan and to the Clyde Old Girls who kindly help each year with getting the Cluthan ready for mailing.

LIGHT BLUE AND OGG UPDATE E-NEWSLETTER

Light Blue (the GGS magazine) and the monthly OGG Update email are other sources for COGs to receive and share information. Light Blue comes out three times a year and has a section of Clyde Old Girls’ information. If you would like to receive it (or cancel it), contact Katie Rafferty, Alumni Manager, (T) 03 5273 9338 (E) katier@ggs.vic.edu.au. Send articles, photos or contributions to Margie Gillett (Cordner), (T) 03 9525 3698 (E) gillett22@bigpond.com COGA ADDRESS LIST AND DATABASE

Please contact Sue Schudmak (Sproat) for changes to names, addresses, phone numbers and new email addresses (we now include those in our data base and address booklet) and notification of COG deaths.

5 Fawkner Street, South Yarra 3141 (T) 03 9867 2663 (M) 0418 560 563 (E) susanschudmak@icloud.com or Tom Maddicks (Data Officer) GGS (T) 03 5227 6292 (E) communityrelations@ggs.vic.edu.au A full report on the current status of the database can be read in the COGA Activities section.

3

AGM MINUTES 2017 Meeting held at the Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club, Sunday 15 October 2017 Margie Gillett opened the meeting at 11:10 am and welcomed all the attendees.

Kate Robinson (Richardson), Bindy Roper (Manifold), Susan Schudmak (Sproat), Kate Senko (Whiting), Di Short (Little), Pam Sinclair (Clyne), Ailsa Simmie (Mason), Sue Strachan (Skene), Anna Tucker (Kimpton), Mary van Dissel (Hawker), Rosemary Parker (Holt), Cynthia Wagg (Sterling), Bibi Wilkinson (Aickin), Suzi Woods (Horne), Jenny Yencken (Watson).

PRESENT

Sue Home (Maberly Smith), Peta Gillespie, Jackie Mackinnon (Kelly), Felicity Dalgleish (Gardner), Anne Stoney (Peardon), Tim Gillespie (Street), Hilary Blakiston (Heath), Rosemary Weatherly (Russell), Susan Calvert, Trish Young, Lou Robinson (McMillan), Joan Mackenzie (Bloomfield), Trina Carr (Moore), Jenny Blencowe (Hogg), Susanna Allen (Hogg), Alison Smith (Pyper), Virginia Stevenson, Anne Spiden (Ross), Christine Nicolas (Blackwell), Mary Hildebrandt (Downie), Jane Loughnan (Weatherly), Jackie Catanach (Lempriere), Fiona Chirnside (Macfarlan), Kathleen Cust (Mason), Liz Smart (Goode), Meg Hornabrook, Ros Rawlins (Hornabrook), Deborah Calvert (Moore), Debo McNab (Grimwade), Sally Salter (Stevenson), Annie Hamilton (Coy), Annette Webb-Neckers (Webb), Dallas Kinnear (Heath), Deirdre Gowan (Leviny), Janet Clark (Armstrong), Janie Grimwade, Pru Hunter, Ros Allen (Wilkins), Annabelle Pobjoy (d’Antoine), Cas Bennetto, Liz Balharrie, Kammy Cordner Hunt (Cordner), Jocelyn Mitchell (Low), Judy Emerson (Shaw), Jill Meredith-Smith (Coy), Di Whittakers (Moore), Margie Gillett (Cordner), Amanda Elliott (Bayles), Elizabeth Landy (Manifold), Fern Henderson (Welsh), Fiona Caro (Macleod), Nani McMullin, Edwina Machado (Drummond-Moray).

Susan Calvert moved that the apologies be accepted. Seconded by Jackie Catanach.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS AGM

Having been printed in the Cluthan, these were taken as read. Moved they be accepted: Mary Hildebrandt. Seconded by Ann Spiden.

BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF THE LAST AGM

There was no business arising from the minutes of the previous AGM. PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Margie Gillett read the President’s report. Trish Young moved it be accepted. Seconded by Jackie Mackinnon.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Having been printed in the Cluthan, this was taken as read. Peta Gillespie moved the report and Margie Gillett moved it be accepted. Seconded by Hilary Blakiston.

APOLOGIES

ELECTION OF 2017/18 OFFICER BEARERS

By mail, phone, email or on the day.

Anna Affleck (Durham), Frances Aitken (Marshall), Georgina Barraclough (Moran), Rosy Bromell (Gardner), Susan Brookes (Lowing), Janet Calvert-Jones (Murdoch), Dizzy Carlyon (Clapham), Victoria Cook, Vicki d'Antoine (Hughes), Libby Dennis (Gatenby), Priscilla Donald (Boaden), Janet Gordon (Affleck), Jenny Happell (Shaw), Gillie Holyman, Sally Hudson (Mercer), Penny Lewisohn (Weatherly), Angie Lyon (Rouse), Sarah Lysaght (Bellair), Janet McCulloch (Low), Gaie McLean (McFarland), Georgina Molesworth (Bieri), Susan Monger (Crooke), Gay Morton (Howard), Lyn Moore (Stevens), Suzanne Officer (Jarvie), Robin Paton (Learmonth), Libby Peck (McPherson), Prue Plowman (Manifold), Sally Powe (Douglas), Judith Reindl (Sterling), Ros Adams (Ritchie),

Dallas Kinnear took the podium to declare all positions vacant and read out the nominations for the 2017/18 COGA committee: President: Margie Gillett (Cordner) Vice President: Fern Henderson (Welsh) Treasurer: Peta Gillespie Secretary: Trish Young Committee Members: Sally Powe (Douglas), Katrina Carr (Moore), Elizabeth Landy (Manifold), Di Whittakers (Moore) and Ann Stoney (Peardon).

The positions were moved by Ros Allen and seconded by Kammy Cordner Hunt. All positions were approved by those present.

GENERAL BUSINESS

4

Peta Gillespie reported on the results of the Jumble

Sale survey. Of the respondents:

COGA PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2017

   

Welcome everyone to the Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club for the 2017 COGA AGM and Old Girls’ Day. Thank you to club member Jackie Mackinnon (Kelly) for hosting us here today, and to staff member Samantha who has managed and organised our refreshments and lunch. The RSY tennis club has been like the former Nine Darling Street in the lives of Clyde girls, with social events and family celebrations going back decades. At parties here in the 1970s we wore long Laura Ashley dresses with pintucks and frilly collars and cuffs. In the 1960s we did ‘go-go’ dancing wearing Prue Acton miniskirts with our Mary Quant white lipstick. COG Janie Grimwade played, coached and won tennis trophies here too. Nowadays members can swim or cycle in the RSY gym wearing the latest lycra active wear. It’s a vibrant club that moves with the times.

92% enjoy coming to the event 80% come every year The quality of goods is fair The prices are fair

Most respondents were uncertain about the future of the Jumble Sale:  Responses to the current format were ‘fair’ or ‘unsure’  Toorak Uniting Church Hall meets the needs of the Jumble Sale  We agree to supporting the IHK through contributions from the Jumble Sale  Continued support for fundraising was ‘overwhelming’: A. Jumble Sale, B. Garden Tour, C. Luncheon with guest speaker / function at Clyde House

COGA is an incorporated, not-for-profit community organisation with tax exempt status, abiding by the Rules of the Associations Incorporation Act (2012).

These rules determine our constitution, membership eligibility, the role of our committee, the number of meetings we have each year, and the requisite annual financial reports. Under the 2012 Act, COGA’s constitutional objectives as an alumni association are still relevant: Firstly to provide a means of keeping former students of Clyde School in touch with each other, secondly to assist specific educational aims approved by COGA, and thirdly to help maintain the spirit and traditions of Clyde School at Clyde House, GGS. The committee ensures that COGA meets its regulatory requirements, that reunions and gatherings are held, and that COGA activities have a raison d’être.

Suggestions for future fundraising events were discussed.

Concerns were raised about the support of the IHK, given that they and most of their families are not in the same financial situation as they were in the past – what can we do for them? A suggestion was raised about whether we should have an event at IHK, however that would require it to be on a weekend. If the Jumble Sale continues, should it be continued in the same way? All agreed it’s a nice atmosphere at Toorak Uniting Church Hall. The committee will continue to discuss options about how to proceed.

Preservation of Clyde memorabilia and displays.

Jackie Mackinnon read out an email from Sue Schudmak (sent to Jackie and Margie Gillett) regarding what is happening with the Clyde memorabilia when Clyde House is being rebuilt and the long term preservation of items in Clyde House. Margie Gillett moved that the COGA committee write to the school for reassurance and understanding of what will happen to our memorabilia. The Hawker Library situation is to be temporary. Peta Gillespie seconded the motion that the COGA President write to the Principal of GGS and the School Council to request that the Clyde memorabilia is protected and appropriately displayed. Meg Hornabrook raised the idea of digitising photographs and using them on a touch screen that has details of the items. The School Archivist, Geoffrey Laurenson is keen. The Head of Clyde House is not interested. The Committee will follow up and requested anyone with ideas could email the Committee with their suggestions.

Our sincere thanks to GGS, especially Katie Rafferty, Alumni Relations Manager, and to the Old Geelong Grammarians’ Association (OGGs) for their assistance and administrative support, particularly in funding the printing and postage costs of The Cluthan, and advertising COGA events. Our thanks also to Brendan McAloon, Director of Community Relations for his interest and support, especially in GGS Light Blue magazine. In turn, the OGG Committee is grateful to the many Clyde Old Girls who responded to the OGG membership survey in February 2017. Thank you all for an outstanding and helpful response. Thank you also to those who have attended events organised by the GGS Biddlecombe Society, whose chairman is Neil Robertson, the son of COG Lorie Caddy (Robertson/Yencken).

Margie Gillett read a letter from Mary Hildebrandt (Downie) thanking COGA members for their messages of support on Gunther’s passing.

The Cluthan 2017 was once again produced by a small dedicated team headed by our editor-in-chief Julia Ponder, who is based in Queensland. We are grateful for her generous and diligent work in com-

Meeting closed at 12:02 pm.

5

piling and formatting an excellent newsy magazine, which she sends to GGS for printing, publication and distribution. Sue Schudmak (Sproat) does a great job proof-reading, editing and organising a group at home to finalise the envelopes, labels and postage. Sue also regularly liaises with GGS during the year to help maintain and update the COGA address list and database. Please remember to let Sue or GGS know if you are moving house or changing addresses. She is always very grateful when people take the trouble to collect and forward updated contact details after reunions or gatherings. Or photos for The Cluthan and Light Blue.

tions, COGA has maintained its annual contribution to Isabel Henderson Kindergarten. Jane Loughnan (Weatherly) does a fantastic job as coordinator of the Clyde Jumble Sale. Her team of 30 helpers again ran a busy and productive sale at the Toorak Uniting Church Hall. Thank you Jane. Despite everyone’s best efforts, the quality of goods and the number of keen jumble buyers has declined in recent years.

Some factors which cause this are online shopping and a proliferation of opportunity shops and vintage stores. As a result our 2017 donation cheque to IHK was down on previous years. In response to Jane’s concerns, the COGA committee sent out a survey questionnaire with The Cluthan seeking your opinions about the jumble sale, whether it should be continued, and if so, how it could be improved.

Every year The Cluthan relies on all of us to send news and contributions. We are very grateful to friends and relatives who provide information or photos for obituaries. Some fascinating stories have emerged in 2017, about Clyde girls living in Africa, Papua New Guinea, India, Pakistan, Egypt or USA. Whether nursing, farming, teaching, working in aviation as pilots, stewardesses or air traffic controllers, (or as the head of major organisations like the VRC), Clyde girls are characterised by their courage, energy, versatility, and generosity of spirit.

The first COGA activity after last year’s AGM was the spectacular three-day garden tour (18-20 October 2016) to the Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland region, organised by Fern Henderson (Welsh), Dizzy Carlyon (Clapham) and Sue Home (Maberly Smith). The itinerary took us to the splendour and beauty of rural properties in Neerim South, Jindivick, Merricks, Flinders, Langwarrin and Fingal, near Gunnamatta Beach. Kind and informative hosts welcomed us to plant nurseries, vineyards, art galleries, sculpture gardens and historic or architectural homes with a range of botanical delights. Thanks to the brilliant organising of Fern, Dizzy and Sue, with the help of Treasurer Peta Gillespie, proceeds were donated to local charities, and to the Clyde Scholarship fund. Thank you all for this tremendous contribution.

Thank you to Jackie Mackinnon (Kelly) and Sue Schudmak (Sproat) for their continuing work on the Clyde memorabilia and archives collection housed at GGS. Thanks also to Geoffrey Laurenson, the GGS archivist who is monitoring the protection of Clyde’s history collection, especially the removal of items from Clyde House before its partial demolition and reconstruction during 2018.

The North wing of Clyde House was renovated in 2016, and the new South wing will be constructed in 2018. It is costing GGS about $6 million to bring the standard of boarding accommodation at Clyde House up to the level of other senior boarding houses. A great deal more than it cost to build the first motel-style Clyde House in summer 1975. Among the 60 boarders at Clyde House in 2017, 20 of them are closely related to about 50 Clyde Old Girls. This represents a remarkable continuity of family ties and traditions. Girls who apply for enrolment in the house are encouraged to specify any Clyde family connections. Katrina Carr (Moore) again compiled the Clyde House liaison list for The Cluthan and obtained a lively House report from student Olivia Moore (Yr 10) who is closely related to four Clyde Old Girls. Thanks to Olivia, and to Trina for her excellent work in unearthing connections that even the students and their parents were unaware of.

On behalf of COGA, congratulations to the recipients of special awards and prizes this year at GGS (the COGA Prize for English, and the Lady Robinson Reading Prize which is still awarded annually) and at Braemar College (the COGA Prize for Service, and the Geoff and Helen Handbury Foundation’s Dame Elisabeth Murdoch trophy).

Congratulations to Jenny Happell (Gibson) OAM on her award in the annual Australia Day honours list for distinguished service to the community through voluntary roles with horticultural organisations. An article about Jenny’s work is in this year’s Cluthan.

Golf has always been a favourite sport for Clyde girls, ever since they sent balls flying down the bumpy brackeny slopes of our Macedon course at school. The family golf day was always fun, with fathers vying to outdo each other in the long drive comp. Nowadays our teams are highly competitive in the annual Fun Cup and the Women’s Interschool trophy events. Congratulations to all the successful Clyde players, you are not only champion teams, but

Community service has always been high on the agenda for Clyde girls. From the days of knitting socks and sewing flannel squares and through the era of Clyde Red Cross and other charitable affilia6

teams of champions. Thank you to Anna Tucker (Kimpton) for her reliable coordination of the Clyde golfers, and for her work as vice president of the Women’s Interschool Golf committee.

was Judith Gilder. Joan Mackenzie (Bloomfield) was house captain of Ingleton in 1952.

Apologies to all concerned for the incorrect naming of the 1952 school captain. And congratulations in retrospect for your leadership roles.

A special thank you to our Treasurer Peta Gillespie who received the AGM replies and payments, and did the attendance lists, name tags and door duties for today. Her wise advice and efficient support of COGA is hugely appreciated. She not only handles the finance for all COGA activities, she also drafted the COGA Activities and jumble sale survey which was sent out with The Cluthan. She will be talking about that later.

GUEST SPEAKER COGA AGM 2017 AMANDA ELLIOTT (BAYLES) “A Winning Formula” We were delighted that Amanda Elliott accepted to be our guest speaker at the COGA AGM 2017.

October is an incredibly busy time of year for the Chairman of the VRC. We were honoured and grateful that she gave priority to COGA among her many professional and social commitments. We were also pleased to welcome her daughter Edwina Machado (Drummond-Moray) who is a former Clyde House student.

Big thanks to everyone on the COGA committee for their continuing interest and support of COGA. To vice president Fern Henderson (Welsh) especially for the fab garden tour; to our secretary Trish Young; Katrina Carr (Moore); Sally Powe (Douglas); Blip Landy (Manifold), Lesley Griffin (Vincent) and to Di Whittakers (Moore) for their valuable contributions in all areas. We tick along quietly as a committee, everyone has busy lives and lends a helping hand or attends meetings when they are able. We have a great time at our meetings over dinner at the RACV club. Lesley is stepping down from the committee today and we thank her for her involvement and commitment over the last three years.

Amanda attended Clyde in the 1960s. We remember her as popular, intelligent, academically successful and sporty, a natural star. She and her twin sister Ayliffe Bayles were both great team players. Amanda played in basketball, baseball, hockey and tennis teams, and was in the Senior Firsts for tennis and hockey. She won honours prizes for academic work and prizes at the Alliance Francaise competitions for French poetry, reading and conversation. After leaving school she graduated from Melbourne University with a BA in Asian languages, political science and government.

People belong to all sorts of groups and associations throughout their lives. These can be formed because of shared experiences or work relationships, sport teams or recreation activities. They are vital components of a healthy society. When Richmond won the grand final two weeks ago, as the players and supporters celebrated their team’s victory I thought, “This will unite them for the rest of their lives. A magnificent shared effort where they threw their hearts together and achieved what they had dreamed of”. All of us here today spent a significant part of our young lives living and learning at Clyde on Mt Macedon, seeing more of each other than our own families sometimes. Because of that special shared experience, we will always be united, whatever our age, in friendship and mutual support whenever it is needed. After 42 years, COGA still demonstrates that connection.

It’s not surprising that Amanda’s vivacious energy, abilities and passion for her work are qualities that helped her to transcend gender barriers in the traditionally male-dominated thoroughbred racing industry.

Perhaps she was always destined to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a member (2002) of the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) committee, only the second female committee member in the VRC’s 140 year history. Ian Bayles was Vice-Chairman of the VRC in the 1970s and 80s. But even he might not have foreseen that in 2016 Amanda would ‘break the glass ceiling’, ‘cross the white line’ and become the first female Chairman of the VRC. Racing is in her blood. Amanda and her siblings Archie, Alastair, Aprilla and Ayliffe were raised at the Bayles’ family property, Chatsworth Park in Tahbilk, near Nagambie, famous for its thoroughbred history.

Thank you all for coming today.

Margie Gillett (Cordner) COGA President Note: Correction to COGA President’s Report in The Cluthan 2017:

Amanda’s love of horses and her profound knowledge of the thoroughbred breeding and racing industry were nurtured during her childhood at

The correct name for the school captain of Clyde in 1951 was Jane Barnard (Chirnside) and in 1952 it 7

Tahbilk. She recalls the racing season became a flurry of fashion and frivolity, as stylish hats and frocks were selected in preparation for the autumn and spring racing carnivals each year. Her father’s suits would be hanging in rows with shirts and ties to match. The whole family packed their finery into trunks and decamped to Melbourne to participate in Australia’s biggest racing calendar each year. This expression of the family’s passionate involvement and energy fostered Amanda’s own high standards of personal presentation, on show nowadays as she is frequently photographed and interviewed in the media. Always looking fabulous.

your potential in leadership roles.

In 1982, women were not allowed to become members of the VRC and were required to stand behind a white line in the members’ section. “The white line separated members from non-members, which happened to include women”, said Amanda. “It was seen as slightly indelicate for women to be in the betting ring. They would have a bet on the tote or similar, but certainly the white line meant that the male members would wave goodbye to their wives and go off to have a great day while the women were kept behind that line because they weren’t members.

I guess I did stand behind the white line but I can’t remember being aware of it”.

Her career path to the top of the global racing industry was circuitous. After graduating from university, she worked for Labor MP Gough Whitlam as a scriptwriter and researcher in the Foreign Affairs office. He made an indelible impression on Amanda who described him as an excellent debater with a towering intellect. At age 23 in 1976, Amanda married and moved to live in Scotland with her first husband David Drummond-Moray, father to her daughter Edwina (37). In Scotland Amanda ran two small businesses and managed the interior redecoration of their historic home in Perthshire.

The election of Amanda to the Chairmanship was timely for the VRC. She is seen as upholding its significant traditions and history, but is also progressive and visionary in her plans for the club. She shared with us an idea of her ambitious vision for Flemington beyond racing, aiming to transform the racecourse into a multi-faceted sporting, dining and community hub, catering for all ages and different interest groups. She seeks as much feedback from the huge VRC membership as possible. A new $128m world-class members’ stand will be completed in 2018, in time for the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

“I want Flemington to be all things to all people and have a real community side to it,” she said. “We want to see the centre of the course completely landscaped and grassed and available for playing fields.”

There will be improvements in prize money, racing initiatives, membership, sponsorship, global alliances and digital media projects. The Australian Racing Museum will also be installed at Flemington, its “natural home”. Amanda is determined to keep the Melbourne Cup as the pre-eminent horse race in the country.

Her first marriage ended in 1987. She later married businessman and Liberal Party president John Elliott, father to her daughter Alexandra (28), having first met him at the 1985 Melbourne Cup. She described John as a dynamic businessman. He had a passion for the Carlton Football Club, he worked tirelessly and never gave up. Their relationship helped Amanda to develop a belief in her own abilities and an insight into tackling life’s challenges.

It was not until 2001 when Amanda found herself single and questioning her identity after her 16-year relationship with John Elliott broke down that she resolved to pursue a path which led her to one of the most prominent sporting roles in Australia. Quoted in the Herald Sun newspaper of 7 Oct 2017, and sharing similar thoughts with COGA, Amanda said “I learnt some pretty tough life lessons and eventually listened to the voice inside me telling me that I needed to learn to be on my own beyond the safe harbour of husbands, boyfriends and family.”

Amanda made a few trips to Britain during 2017, as well as making a presentation to the American Jockey Club’s Round Table Conference. She said that Flemington is highly regarded internationally, and the VRC is the largest membership-based racing club in the world, with 31,000 members.

Proud of the VRC board, Amanda pointed out that there is a gender balance of four women, four men with all being elected on merit. “Tokenism has never had, or will have, a place at the VRC”. She said the Melbourne Cup race will always be held. Her father and men like him fought for the freedom that Australians enjoy, and he always said that even through two world wars prime ministers demanded that the Cup go ahead. The Cup is broadcast all over the world – to the UK and Europe, Middle East, New Guinea, Iraq or flying in airlines above the clouds.

In 2016, the Melbourne Cup Carnival was worth

“I found that combining liberty with maturity led to a sense of empowerment and the next chapter of my life. It came in the shape of the VRC. Putting myself out there solo in a public sense as I stood for election to the committee was hard and challenging. I longed for my father’s wisdom and counsel but sadly he was no longer with us.” She said that magic sometimes happens outside the comfort zone, and you have no idea what you are capable of until you strengthen your self-belief and step up to embrace 8

$427m to the state of Victoria.

TREASURER’S REPORT 2017-2018

Travelling to parts of Australia with the Melbourne Cup trophy has been a delight for Amanda, a tour which has become traditional in the lead-up to November. It engages people all over the country, helping them feel connected to our big race. The Cup trophy has also travelled overseas. She told us of a memorable visit to central Australia with the trophy, when the Birdsville Races were astonishingly cancelled because of heavy rain in an unprecedented weather event. People and planes were stranded at the outback town for days. It turned into a huge party venue, with entertainment ranging from the burlesque to the grotesque, including wild mud wrestling contests between characters called “Bitch and Beaver” … the mind boggles!

This report refers to the Financial Statement of the Clyde Old Girls Association Inc for the year ending 30th June 2018. It is with pleasure that I again present the Treasurer’s Report to the members of the Clyde Old Girls Association.

NOTES TO THE 2018 BALANCE SHEET

We managed a small profit this year, mainly thanks to the generosity of our Old Girls at the time of the AGM. There were no major events during the year, other than our regular AGM and the Jumble Sale.

THE CLUTHAN

On behalf of all members of COGA, I would like to acknowledge the support of the OGGs and GGS who have covered the cost of The Cluthan for both printing and distribution again this year. This is a considerable saving to us, postage alone last year was over $2,300!

Amanda also gave some insight into the unique expressions which have developed into the vernacular of racing, a hilarious list of horse racing lingo and slang. For instance, a mudlark is not a harmless piece of mischief; it’s a horse that thrives on wet tracks. A stayer is not to be confused with one who can handle their drink all day; it applies to a horse suited to longer distances. She offered many other amusing quotes having developed a special understanding of racing expressions, and the characters who deliver them. She has made many friends and values the wonderful variety of people she has met in the racing industry.

JUMBLE SALE

Once again, Jane and her team have done a wonderful job in keeping the Jumble Sale going. There is a lot of work involved in setting up the hall the night before the event – as well as the cleaning up after.

Thank you, Jane, from us all.

While our donation to the Isabel Henderson Kindergarten was more than last year, this was only made possible because of a one-off donation from Sally Hudson (Mercer). Sally had held her own “mini jumble sale” of clothes during the year and gave the proceeds of $755 to our takings. This represented 35% of our payment to IHK. The Committee has been giving consideration to what is the best way forward to continue our support of the Kindergarten and we hope to have a proposal to put to the AGM.

We are immensely grateful to Amanda for sharing her story with COGA, especially just ahead of the Spring racing carnival for 2017. As expected, she hosted the Melbourne Cup and associated race meetings with great style and poise, photographed and interviewed throughout the media. COGA is very proud of her achievements. After her talk, she was presented with a framed print of William Short’s image of Mt Macedon and the road to Braemar House, thanks to Jackie Mackinnon (Kelly) who organised this. Later in the week COGA delivered an arrangement of native flowers to her home, to remind her of the alpine bushland of our schooldays.

It is interesting to note that we have been making a contribution to IHK since 1956. In the past 63 years we have donated over $79,450 – which is quite amazing. We have been told by the Director that our annual donation has assisted at least two children a year to receive an early childhood education that would otherwise be beyond their means. I am sure that Miss Henderson would be proud that the Clyde support continues.

Note: There is no transcript or text of Amanda’s address to COGA available. Sources for the above summary include notes taken at the AGM, internet and media articles, including the Herald Sun 7 October 2017.

In March 2018 Amanda won the coveted Lady of Racing award run by the Victorian Wakeful Club in partnership with Racing Victoria (RV) to celebrate women who have made an outstanding contribution to the thoroughbred racing and breeding industries.

SCHOOL PRIZES

COGA continues to support Braemar College and Geelong Grammar with a $200 prize to each school.

The thank you letters we receive from the students show that the prize is valued and recognises the Clyde School link with both these schools.

Peta Gillespie Honorary Treasurer, June 2018 9

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 JUNE 2018 2017-18

2016-17

NAB (Opening Balance) 01 July 2017

28,372.15

49,193.61

NAB (Closing Balance) 30 June 2018

29,144.36

28,372.15

Total Assets

29,144.36

28,372.15

Assets

Liabilities O/S Cheques

0.00

Total Liabilities

0.00

Net Assets

29,144.36

28,372.15

AGM Lunch

1,590.00

825.00

AGM / General Donations

2,060.00

1,235.00

Jumble Sale

4,550.00

3,812.00

132.14

169.84

INCOME and EXPENSES 2017-2018 Income

Interest Garden Tour

9,530.00

History Book

320.00

389.99

8,652.14

15,961.83

1,650.00

642.50

385.50

297.80

Jumble Sale Proceeds to Isabel Henderson Kindergarten

2,600.00

2,000.00

Jumble Sale Expenses

1,876.00

2,274.72

Golf Cups (Fun and Interschool)

420.00

432.00

English Prize to GGS and Braemar

400.00

400.00

Incorporation Fee

56.90

55.80

Reimbursements

391.53

0.00

Total Income Expenses AGM Expenses Meeting Expenses

Garden Tour

30,580.47

Gifts and Donations

Total Expenditure Surplus / Loss for year 10

100.00

100.00

7,879.93

36,783.29

772.21

-20,821.46

AGM 2017

L-R: Deb Calvert (Moore), Jackie Mackinnon (Kelly), Amanda Elliott (Bayles) our speaker, Pru Hunter, Anne Stoney (Peardon), Christine Nicolas (Blackwell), Deirdre Gowan (Leviny) and in front Amanda’s daughter Edwina Machado (Drummond Moray, Clyde House)

L-R: Peta Gillespie, Jackie Mackinnon (Kelly), Tim Street (Gillespie), Amanda Elliott (Bayles), Kammy Cordner Hunt (Cordner)

L-R: Annie Spiden (Ross), Jackie Mackinnon (Kelly), Deb Calvert (Moore), Susan Calvert

L-R: Di Whittakers (Moore), Jackie Catanach (Lempriere)

L-R: Annabelle Pobjoy (d’Antoine), Ros Allen (Wilkins), Fern Henderson (Welsh), Fiona Chirnside (Mcfarlan) 11

COGA ACTIVITIES GOLF REPORT FUN CUP 2017

The Fun Cup was held at Barwon Heads on Friday 13th October 2017. It was a great turn up with approximately 50 players from the three schools making the journey.

Thursday night’s dinner at the club house was good fun. A great way for newcomers to meet and enjoy getting into the swing, after all the Fun Cup is all about good times, making new friends and enjoying a round of golf together. Over 30 joined in the excitement of the evening. Thanks to the club house for providing a delicious choice of food.

The four best scores from Clyde in the Fun Cup golf day were L-R: Prue Plowman (Manifold), Anne Stoney (Peardon), Caroline Russell (Winner of A Grade) and Tinks Urquhart (Austin)

We arrived back at the clubhouse early the next morning ready for the battle! The weather was kind and scores were amazing. Over half the field scored 30+ points. Well done everyone, a great result.

INTER SCHOOL CHALLENGE CUP 2018

The Interschool Challenge Cup was played at Kew Golf Club this year.

A determined St Catherine's team won with a combined score of 147 points for their best four scores, followed by Toorak College on 138 just pipping Clyde on 137 points. Highlight for Clyde was Caroline Russell winning A Grade with 38 points.

From all accounts everyone had a wonderful day.

Scoring was not easy, the greens were slick, however I’m delighted to report our Clyde team finished 2nd, a fabulous result.

The winners were Genazzano. In equal third place were St Leonards and Toorak College. An absolutely wonderful effort by all players. All four scores count which make this event a real test for everyone. Prue Plowman (Manifold) had a great score of 37 points and won the Kitty McEwan Trophy for the best score for handicaps between 0-18 Daily Handicap.

Thanks to all for the support from everyone who came, particularly those who had travelled long distances to be part of a wonderful day.

We hope to have a successful day at Sorrento Golf Club on Friday 5th October 2018 when we next meet. Hope the date is already in the diary.

Team photo Fun Cup 2017, L-R: Susie Sutherland (Finlay), Anna Tucker (Kimpton), Jo Armytage (BarrSmith), Gay Morton (Howard), Heather Cameron (Dalrymple), Julie Cole (Baird) (hidden), Sandy Taylor (Dalrymple), Prue Plowman (Manifold), Deb Middleton (Noall), Fi Chirnside (McFarlan), Caroline Russell, Kate Robinson (Richardson), Tinks Urquhart (Austin) and Anne Stoney (Peardon) 12

L-R: Eda Ritchie (Beggs), Susie Sutherland (Finlay), Janet Coombes (Dalrymple) and Prue Plowman (Manifold)

L-R: Sisters Meg Hornabrook and Roo Rawlins (Hornabrook) with Joan Mackenzie (Bloomfield)

Congratulations to our team for representing Clyde in such fine spirit.

Many thanks to COGA for kindly funding the golf team’s entry fees. We are extremely grateful for their interest and support. As the day is also about raising money for the Cottage by the Sea at Queenscliff, I am happy to report a cheque for $4,500 was sent to them.

Any queries please contact Anna Tucker annatucker8@outlook.com or 0408 540 252.

JUMBLE SALE REPORT 2018 On Thursday 28 June a band of enthusiastic Clyde girls arrived at the Toorak Uniting church hall on Wednesday evening to deliver and unpack goods for the Annual Jumble sale for the following morning.

L-R: OGG Catherine Messum (Stoney), Fern Henderson (Welsh) and Catherine’s mum Anne Stoney (Peardon)

Penny Lewisohn (Weatherly), Anna Affleck (Durham), Ros Allen (Wilkins) and Sally Hudson (Mercer) along with others hung clothes and sorted Jumble onto tables, ready for the morning.

Below: Doorkeepers and pricing team.

L-R: Peta Gillespie, Debo McNab (Grimwade), helper Keddie, Anna Tucker (Kimpton), Shaen Whittaker, Annabelle Pobjoy (d’Antoine)

13

L-R: Kate Robinson (Richardson) and Katrina Carr (Moore) COGA committee member Katrina and Kate were Clyde school and sports captains respectively in 1975, the last year on Mt Macedon

The bookstall team L-R: Joc Mitchell (Low), Elizabeth Landy (Manifold), Dizzy Carlyon (Clapham), Billy Philp (Laidlaw), Fern Henderson (Welsh)

L-R: Jumble Sale coordinator and chief organiser Jane Loughnan (Weatherly) with COGA golf rep Anna Tucker (Kimpton)

L-R: Andrea Wilkinson (Clarke) and Janet Gordon (Affleck) on the fresh produce stall

14

A band of old Clyde girls arrived early to help unpack more donations. Debo McNab (Grimwade), Nanny McMullin, Kate Robertson (Richardson) and Anne Latreille (Dalrymple) and many more, unpacked, hung and generally got busy and with a lot of chatter making the hall ready for customers.

Sometimes there were over 20 cells to complete for each name, it was an enormous task!

At this stage there was no time to enter additional information such as relationships, full names, date of birth, husband’s name etc. We had much of this information in our archives in four or five conflicting lists and entry books. This year (having had a shoulder operation which meant I could not use my right hand for weeks but could type with my left!!) I decided it was time to try and fill in the gaps. It took months of frustration as there was so much conflicting information and particularly misinformation.

However, the task has now been completed to the best of my ability. Unfortunately, I have only entered close relationships i.e. sisters, mothers, grandmothers, daughters etc. Not aunts and cousins as there were far too many incorrect relationships. I felt it was important only to add correct information.

Louise Morris (Clarke), Meg Hornabrook, Roo Rawlings (Hornabrook), Celia Jones (Griffin) and Liz Smart (Goode) set out the bric-à-brac on some tables while Andrea Wilkinson (Clarke), Janet Gordon (Affleck) and Anna Tucker (Kimpton) arranged produce from the garden, pantry and cakes made by the Isabel Henderson parents in the Produce area.

Books were set out spine up for easy viewing by Joc Mitchell (Low), Elizabeth Landy (Manifold) and others. Peta Gillespie produced the dollars for the float and the sales started with the doors opening at 10 am.

However, GGS do have many connections already recorded (particularly Clyde House girls connected to Old Girls) and this work will be helpful to fill in some gaps. This information is available for anyone to access through GGS.

A very busy two hours ensued with sales and donations, making it possible to send off $2,600 to the Isabel Henderson Kindergarten. This will support two children in need to attend the Kindergarten. The doors close at noon, the Diabetes Australia truck turns up to a flurry of Clyde girls packing and loading the truck, all is tidy in 15 minutes, and then off to lunch. We had about 30 people helping and about 20 were able to join for a lunch in the Manse Cafe behind the church at about 12.30 pm. It was a wonderful catch-up for all. Many people give time, support and donations to make an enjoyable but exhausting day. Thank you, your contribution is very much appreciated. The next jumble sale will be Thursday 27 June 2019.

2017 COGA statistics provided by Tom Maddicks: 2066 total COGA past students, of whom:  1096 are deceased  270 are address unknown  25 are COGA No Mail (COGANM) i.e. don't want contact.  700 have valid/current addresses (2 are COGANM)  698 COGA past students are therefore on the Cluthan mailing list 47 total COGA staff members (*sadly this was all that we were able to contact when computerising the data base in 2005).  25 staff are deceased  11 staff are address unknown (including 4 COGANM)  11 staff have valid/current addresses  11 staff are therefore on the Cluthan mailing list (of which 3 are listed as COGA past students)

Jane Loughnan (Weatherly) Jumble Sale Coordinator (M) 0417 535 862 (E) ejloughnan@gmail.com

DATABASE REPORT GGS maintains the Clyde database and we are very grateful to Dougal Morrison in particular for his interest, and to both him and Tom Maddicks for keeping this updated.

706 Cluthans were sent (698 students + 8 staff).

When Clyde closed in 1975 Old Girls’ names were only recorded on lists. Before the production of our Clyde history book (launched in 2006) it was essential to computerise this list for posterity and so we could contact as many Old Girls as possible regarding the book.

To allow us to continually update the data base please contact us with changes of address, deaths etc.

We have had mail returned for these people. Please contact us if anyone knows of their whereabouts.

Mary Sutherland (Ramsay) Clyde 1943-48 Suzanne Donovan (Cheek) Clyde 1972

At this stage there were only about 1,000 members of COGA. It was decided that everyone who attended Clyde would now automatically be made a member of COGA. It took weeks to add the other 1,000 or so names and to comply with the GGS data base.

Sue Schudmak (Sproat) Database liaison (M) 0418 560563 (E) susanschudmak@icloud.com 15

went! Geoffrey Laurenson has also become our COG ‘guardian angel’ for the Clyde House renovation project involving a new state-of-the-art archival glass case, which will feature the most relevant COG memorabilia for all to peruse in the main front reception area, completion being due about the end of October. One of the highlights we will be drawn to on Clyde House Opening Day are the recently converted 1975 Sports Day spool films – not to be missed – as with your COG Reunions during 2018/2019. Do get in touch with people and start making plans (*photographers).

ARCHIVE COLLECTION REPORT Perhaps the highlight for 2017-18 was another ‘first’ for a Clyde Old Girl featuring on the national and international spectrum – that of Ileen Macpherson (Clyde 1911-16) (see feature article under Archives) who, through the findings of Dr John Paull of UTAS Hobart, has only recently been celebrated as an original founding member of the ‘biodynamics and organics’ movement, initiated by Rudolph Steiner in Melbourne. Not only was Dr Paull’s paper “The Invisible Farmer” beamed across the world using, it would seem, almost every form of social media (including blogs!) so did GGS feature a synopsis of this great story of our latest ‘FP’ from ‘Town Clyde’, in their ‘Mail Room’ section of the ‘Light Blue’ magazine! Yet again it signifies the importance of our Archives Collection and a supervising archivist being available to the public to help research these enquiries which nearly always produce triumphant results and wonderful stories that might otherwise go undiscovered! Hail Ileen Macpherson.

Since Clyde House opened in 1976 it has naturally accrued a considerable history of its own in 42 years, thus it will feature its own glass archival case.

At this point in time we are not sure how we are going to fund ours but donations to COGA are always most appreciated. When Clyde School amalgamated with GGS in 1976, it was under the auspices of the late Michael Collins Persse, then based in the Hawker Library, that a beautiful mini selection of Clyde memorabilia was lovingly displayed – we hope it will remain and be appreciated there for years to come! R.I.P. dear MCP. Herewith my favourite Irish Blessing: May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sunshine warm upon your face, May the rains fall upon your fields, And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

This past year-archival my involvement with the Clyde archives collection has been fairly undemanding: visits to the Fisher Library for updating Old Girl files and publications or registering donations, such as the delightful prize books from Alison Smith (Pyper). We are always most grateful for any memorabilia – please do not ever assume we would already have ‘your stuff’ – so often it is quite the treasure we don’t have, like Jean Hood (Gatenby)’s “The Secret of Hanging Rock”. Thank you again Jean!

In future all Clyde memorabilia donations should be sent to Geoffrey Laurenson, including books and online books, requiring an owner sign-off and GGS registration before being carefully added to our COG Collection. Geoff will also do his best to answer any queries and do any research you might have, so please do not hesitate to contact him during the week at the Fisher Library: 03 5273 9869, (E) glaurenson@ggs.vic.edu.au or write/post items to him: Mr Geoffrey Laurenson, Senior School Archivist, Clyde Archive Collection, Geelong Grammar School, 50 Biddlecombe Avenue, Corio, Victoria, 3214. Please head up your communication with ATTENTION: COG Archives.

Clyde History Books are still available through the GGS Uniform Shop (03 5273 9329) or through Sue Schudmak (Sproat) or myself – they still make great presents! Our thanks as always to the few stalwart COG ‘Helpers’ behind the scenes (you know who you are), and to all our Fisher Library friends who remain so cheerful and helpful at all times.

Working beside Geoffrey Laurenson, the ultimate (ex SLV) archivist, is an honour; there’s always something different to learn! Our last major task was at ‘Old’ Clyde House, clearing out all our memorabilia, labelling and bagging it, (Geoff insisting on NO cleaning of any trophies but there were a lot.

Whose punishment were they to become?!). If they weren’t re-housed in The Vault, the uniforms and miscellaneous items were brought home to sort, dryclean or wash and iron but most were badly motheaten (and Geoff says dry-cleaning does NOT eradicate moth larvae) so that’s possibly why they had such a feast in Clyde House! Pity the two gorgeous woolly jumpers, a quite new blazer and two beautiful pom-pom berets were too small (and stylish) to wear dog walking so off to the charity shops they all

Jackie Mackinnon (Kelly) Archives Coordinator (M) 0417 371 496 (E) baftaj@gmail.com EXCERPTS FROM THE MAY 1918 CLUTHAN

100 years ago, with WW1 nearly over, Clyde girls in St Kilda were working hard to raise funds and provide practical help for returning soldiers. The 1918 excerpts reflect this, along with other Clyde news. ~ Holding their own in Palestine and Mesopotamia, the Australian troops continued to add prestige to British arms.

16

~ ‘When the American troops reach France in full force we believe that our leaders’ unwavering confidence in our ultimate victory will be justified in the eyes of the world’.

a Limerick Competition on the CCC, which Miss Herring won: “Anon,” it will be seen, has worked off a grudge against a prominent member who omitted to pay her subscription.

~ One assumes depression took hold throughout: few students took Public Examinations “owing to their change in 1917”; Form Notes were so poor they were considered unworthy of printing. “The success of the paper (Cluthan) depends almost entirely on the girls, who should therefore, when writing for the paper, do their best to write in good style and to bring out those points which will be interesting to their readers”!

1. CCC, do not think you can mock it! Twill succeed, for there’s nothing to block it: If you’ve time to beguile, Come to meetings and smile; you may still keep your sub. in your pocket.

2. A brilliant suggestion one day, Was seconded without more delay: That the Clyde girls should make, A Club that would take, Snaps of Home for Anzacs away.

~ At the beginning of 1918 Miss Margery Herring, B.Sc., became head of Ingleton, Clyde’s boarding house (c.1913).

3. In the sun of the CC there basked, One whose perfidy soon was unmasked, When they said “Have you paid?” She replied undismayed, “Why, it’s manners to wait till you’re asked!”

~ Miss Remington continued her interesting monthly talks to the Old Girls’ Reading Circle at “Clutha” (School House).

~ Under Faireleight Notes thanks went to Miss Herring for the work she was doing for the Boarders.

~ Ambulance classes were begun by Dr Hilda Kershaw (Secretary Lenore Austin), 50 girls signed up.

~ A motion was carried unanimously to invest (from membership subscriptions) 20 Stlg into the ‘War Loan’.

For a fortnight their dining-room was commandeered so that costumes could be produced for the Entertainment at the Base Hospital. Ingleton Notes boasted they were the first house at Clyde to deal in Red Cross house-badges, and they also mentioned that Photography (and developing all hours of the night!) was flourishing. Clutha tried to celebrate its first birthday with ties and silks in its “uncommon colours of dark blue and emerald green” – Miss Hay arranged to have the flag worked by the “Woman’s Work Association” (www.encyclopedia.1914-1918online.net).

~ Another motion was unanimously carried: the Association to support the proposed scheme for building a Women’s University College with a War Savings Certificate for 10Stlg, through the help of Miss Henderson (who offered to continue hosting the Old Girls’ gatherings and, who was a member of the Executive Committee for the Women’s College).

~ A Letter to the Editor of the Cluthan, from Molly Forbes (1917) referencing a motion unanimously carried for a Dramatic Club to be formed in connection with the Old Girls’ Association. “I understand that the work of the proposed club would be for patriotic purposes, or such other objects as the committee thinks fitting”. And they successfully did!

~ Miss Henderson, the President of the Old Girls’ Association, announced membership had increased to 160, nineteen of whom were Life Members (and were required to continue to pay their subscriptions).

However, as there were some 50 members in arrears it was decided that action had to be taken – letters were written!

~ War Work: Linda Druce (1918) describes May 1918 “as perhaps the gravest phase of this worldwide struggle, nor graver anxiety for our cause, so in our little corner of the world, we too must continue to do our utmost, little though it be, and take our share in this national crisis, by working our hardest to alleviate as much as we can the sufferings and privations of our soldiers. We still hold weekly subscriptions and observe the various Button Days. In response to the State War Council’s Special Appeal, 13 Stlg from subscriptions was sent. On ‘Our Boys’ Day’ (March 16) 5 stlg was raised from the sale of buttons and 31 articles of cretonne (i.e. heavy duty upholstery fabric) were sent to the Lyceum Club for their kiosk. On March 25th a lecture in St Mary’s

~ Six more Old Girls joined the University this year to study Arts, Medicine, Science or Laws; many went for nursing and one or two into kindergarten training. ~ Spending in war-time raised constant issues but eventually a Clyde Camera Club (CCC) would go ahead on the basis that photographers would sell their work and the proceeds would support a Camera Club Patriotic Fund. Many (9) enthusiastic officebearers were elected, Club excursions and preliminary photo competitions organised – winning photos being featured in this Cluthan (and much later in the Clyde History book!). 63 members enrolled for 1/(one shilling) subscription per term! There was even 17

Hall was given by a Belgian soldier Monsieur Wouters (see below). An entrance fee of 2/- was charged, with a total of 23 stlg + 10/- being donated to Belgium’s most deserving cause.

ILEEN MACPHERSON

The following is a compilation of profiles: a paper published in 2017 by Dr John Paull, School of Land and Food, University of Tasmania which was adapted by the GGS Light Blue ‘Mail Room’ feature (September 2017) and assisted by COGA Archivist, Jackie Mackinnon (Kelly).

There is still the constant call from the trenches for ‘socks’ and yet more ‘socks’ – we are knitting hard to even outdo last year’s average. Class competitions still exist! The February socks were despatched to the Lady Mayoress’ Patriotic League and those of March to the Tenth Infantry Brigade Depot.

Edith Ileen Macpherson (1898-1984) (Cl’11-16) had as much a remarkable life as she did tragic (which Dr John Paull first discovered in the archives of the Goetheanum, the world centre of the Anthroposophical Society in Switzerland, when he was embarking on a study of Australian women on the land; the three year ‘Invisible Farmer Project’ funded by the Australian Research Council, for the international Journal of Organics (Vol 4, No1, 2017). www.invisiblefarmer.net.au

“The Clyde Cot at Caulfield”: with Miss Henderson’s permission, funds of 3 stlg 15/- were collected for a Christmas Box to be sent to the soldier in the Clyde Cot at the Caulfield Hospital – one scarf, 2 pairs socks in Clyde colours, several books, a pipe, tobacco and cigarettes, sweets, cakes and a plum pudding were the contents of the parcel.

Some excerpts from one very grateful (Sgd) Pte E Y Drinkwater – a married man with 3 children, joined the army in 1915; whilst in camp injured his right eye but after some time was discharged from the Base Hospital. He managed to enlist again, was sent to England for some time but almost lost his eye thus was not permitted to go on to France. Instead, he was sent to a working camp on Salisbury Plains, only to be returned to hospital for six weeks with rheumatics and not able to move. After more time he was eventually returned to Australia, to Caulfield.

“It was a disappointment to me that they would not let me go to France, but I may get there yet – I intend to enlist again if I cannot get something to do shortly”. “Thanking you and your school-mates once more for the Christmas box, Believe me, yours sincerely”.

Ileen’s partner, Italian migrant Ernesto Genoni, had studied with the society’s founder, Austrian philosopher Rudolph Steiner who had developed practical endeavours from his so-called “spiritual science”, including Waldorf education and biodynamic agriculture. Ileen and Ernesto joined Steiner’s Experimental Circle, then founded Australia’s first biodynamic (therefore also Australia’s first organic) farm, Demeter Farm, in Dandenong in 1934. (At least two Clyde Old Girls sent their daughters to the Steiner School during the 1980-90’s). Their 40 acre farm had a small dairy and the cow manure was converted into compost for vegetables which were then sold on the wholesale market in Melbourne or from an old roadside truck! Ileen played an important role in all of the farm activities, from research to application of biodynamic techniques, to gardening, to milking cows.

The Belgian Lecture was written up by Shirley Finlay: “Held on March 25th, St Mary’s Hall was hired and decorated in both Allies’ and Clyde flags along the walls and stage. The evening opened with the National Anthem then Monsieur Lauwers, the Belgian Consul, rendered a short address to introduce Monsieur Wouters, a wounded Belgian soldier, who then proceeded to lecture ‘Miss Henderson and the Girls of Clyde’ – showing at the same time Lantern Slides taken during his term of service in the army.

One by one the scenes passed before us, of sunny Belgium with its beautiful buildings, pleasant roads and great cities; later, the Slides returned to these same places, but they were shell-wrecked and scarred from battle; battlefields, hospitals, and his own home now all destroyed, and as he spoke so graphically of the frightful Belgian sufferings and of the death of one of his brothers, the shaking of his voice betrayed the great emotion he strove so bravely to conceal. Yet, he spoke lightly at times, even joking about the Hun.”

It is more than likely Ileen was greatly influenced by some of her father’s farming practices – one huge project involved irrigating 250,000 acres of farming land at Paika Station, near Balranald; cattle and sheep were also run at Goonambil Station at Urana.

Ileen attended Town Clyde in Alma Road, St Kilda and was nicknamed ‘Ikey’; she was a talented dancer, outstanding athlete (representing Clyde in running, hockey, basketball and tennis), as well as a prefect. There was an amusing comment in the third issue of the Cluthan of May 1915: “Could anything surpass the grim determination writ upon every feature of ‘Ikey’ Macpherson, as she patters up the field?”

The same grim determination was on display when Ernesto returned from a visit to Europe in 1939 and found Ileen unable to walk – she had carried on with the milking by herself, but her legs were giving way.

She was diagnosed with pernicious anaemia, from a 18

vitamin B12 deficiency which leads to nerve damage, muscle weakness and loss of reflexes. Despite intensive treatment at the Epworth Hospital from 194346, Ileen would never walk again. Ernesto built a new, wheelchair-friendly house for them both at Namur Street, Noble Park, and spent the rest of his days “looking after her almost like a nurse”. It had always been incredibly hard work, eventually Ernesto telling Ileen she would have to sell. In 1954 Demeter Farm was sold and they acquired Noble Park where they maintained a large vegetable garden and remained active in the Anthroposophical Society (Ernesto continued to teach the philosophies).

OLD GIRLS’ NEWS Garden Tour to Port Fairy October 17-19, 2017 Christina Hayward (Pym) wrote: On those two very hot days in October 17 and 18, and a cooler day on October 19 I was responsible for The Lorne Garden Club’s tour to Port Fairy. This would not have been easy to do without the fantastic help that I received from my network of Clyde Old Girls.

Firstly Eda Ritchie (Beggs) came to my rescue by suggesting that we stay at the Ashmont Motor Inn and dine at the Hotel Victoria in the evening, both turned out to be terrific suggestions. She then put me in touch with Judy Austin (Wettenhall) and suggested that I contact Mandy King, a Voluntary Guide at the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens, for what turned out to be a very instructive tour of the Gardens. After viewing various trees and plants, we ended up eating home-made cake around the Pagoda.

Even though over the years since leaving school I had barely seen Judy Austin, she was kindness itself and suggested that she organise our entire day in Port Fairy. Judy arranged for us to view four interesting gardens belonging to her friends. The last garden we visited was her own, which was full of colour and gorgeous flowering plants. Like her mother, Judy is a great gardener and Judy and Tom had obviously done a lot of work to make it look so beautiful on the day. They generously gave us a cup of tea and a glass of wine, elegantly served with delicious cheeses and asparagus rolls in their garden. There were no kelpies in sight but we did meet their two Italian greyhounds. It was really an unforgettable day for the Lorne Garden Club members and me.

Thank you Judy. What a lovely little town Port Fairy is!

This was more than eight decades ago and it is thanks to Ileen Macpherson and her partner Ernesto Genoni, with their Demeter Farm, that they blazed a trail for the development of biodynamics and organics. According to Dr Paull “Australia is now a world leader in organic farming and accounts for a massive 45% of the world’s certified organic agricultural hectares”.

Ileen was born in St Kilda (1898), the second of six children to Mabel (nee Brown, 1872-1953) and Walter Macpherson (1864-1926); there were four brothers and two sisters – Ileen outlived them all, except for her younger sister Ethel ‘Marjorie’ Kennedy (Macpherson Cl’14).

Some of her relatives are niece Helen Hamilton (Kennedy) and great nieces Mary Heyson (Hamilton) and Sally Holland (Hamilton).

Driving from Lorne, on advice from Debo McNab (Grimwade), we stopped to have lunch at the home

She died at 85 on June 3 1984, nine years after Ernesto.

She left her house and land to the Dandenong Council for a park – the Ileen Macpherson Park at 17-19 Namur Street, Noble Park.

L-R: Anna Jamieson, Rozzie Stansmore (McArthur), Sandra Kay (Moran), Christina Hayward (Pym), Anna Affleck (Durham), Wendy Wilson (Edge) and Elizabeth Barkman (Piccoli) 19

Dallas Kinnear (Heath) emailed that she had been helping Belinda Philp (Morieson/Laidlaw), who was leading a pop-up Women’s Museum exhibition on a very exciting new project. As former Secretary of Australian Nurses and Midwives Federation (Vic), and a former board director of ESTA, First State Super and Health Super, and inaugural Chair of the Victorian Nurses Health Program, Belinda now holds the position of Company Secretary of Her Place Women’s Museum Australia. This not-forprofit organisation honours the distinctive achievements of women both past and present and inspires girls in their future endeavours.

L-R: Wendy Wilson (Edge), Elizabeth Barkman (Piccoli), Judy Austin (Wettenhall), Christina Hayward (Pym) and Sandra Kay (Moran) in Judy Austin’s garden, Port Fairy of Debo’s niece and nephew, hospitable James and Anna Affleck (Durham), in Peterborough. Rozzie Stansmore (McArthur) was also there. Anna Jamieson, whose daughter is the current captain of Clyde House at GGS, catered for the delicious lunch. Anna Affleck was so helpful sharing her great knowledge of gardens with me, providing advice for our trip home through the Western District and suggesting gardens that would be interesting to visit.

The vision for Her Place is to create a public space through exhibitions, public programs, education resources and a digital archive. In 2016 Her Place Women’s Museum Australia merged with Women’s Heritage Centre Victoria and also became a registered member of the International Association of Women’s Museums (a network of women’s museums and initiatives worldwide).

The Clyde Old Girls who came along the trip were Sandra Kay (Moran), who did all the mobile phoning for me whilst in transit, Sandra used her Clyde skills to save me when I got locked in the shower and we thought we would have to get the nice Manager Dean to save me. Elizabeth Barkman (Piccoli) and her husband Rod came all the way from Corowa. As he still works as a doctor we had him on board in case anyone swooned or passed out!

Wendy Wilson (Edge) is a member of the Club and some years ago invited me to join. She was able to stay with her son in Warrnambool and join us daily.

Her Place has now held numerous exhibitions – the first was held in Melbourne last year – where the Mayor offered Her Place the room under the Town Hall at no cost. Others have been held in various regional locations. I helped to run the one in Clunes last year. A Her Place teacher trained in gender issues led two sessions for the Wesley students – one for the boys and one for the girls. I very much enjoyed mentoring some Wesley student volunteers – both male and female – in meeting and greeting visitors. We got very positive feedback from all visitors both male and female, young and old. Her Place is planning more exhibitions across the Regions. One is being held at Ballarat Technical School early in November focusing on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) with professional development sessions for teachers to encourage girls in these areas of study. Ultimately Her Place aims to get a permanent site for a National Women's Museum in Melbourne.

The coastal scenery was especially beautiful and the lush green Spring pastures of the Western District gave way to the tall trees of The Otways as we drove the winding road back to Lorne. It was a fantastic few days with lots of laughs, non-stop talking and good food.

Tony and Elizabeth Landy (Manifold) of Walkerville were successful in selling their annual draft of 280 Angus and Angus-Hereford steers at Leongatha sale yards. Tony said he was pleased that the market was rising to achieve a good average price range for their livestock.

*If you’re interested in volunteering some time, ideas or networks, even sponsor or make a donation to Her Place Women’s Museum: PO Box 1179, St Kilda Sth 3182, (M) 0477 411 089 (E) herplace@herplacemuseum.com

Helen Connell (Wettenhall) is an artist who lived in Tocumwal NSW for many years while raising her children Jim, Thea and Phoebe. In 2015 she moved to Bullarto South near Trentham in Victoria, to a mudbrick 1980s house on 30 acres at the end of a winding forested road. She has transformed the house and garden into a delightful rural retreat, which is featured in the first issue of The Design Files for 2018. http://thedesignfiles.net/2018/01/anartists-eclectic-home-in-daylesford/

Alice Brettingham-Moore ‘Snooky’ (Knox) runs a successful thoroughbred agistment and spelling enterprise near Nagambie. She is a quiet achiever who has earned a reputation for high quality care of the most precious racehorses, broodmares and foals. She employs a manager to oversee day-to-day, but has been running the business on her own for decades.

Goulburn Park is an idyllic location for stabling brood mares and the source of many quality horses.

20

We congratulate Cas Bennetto as CEO and Gwen Allen (Hood) as Admin Executive for the Kimberley Foundation which researches, preserves and promotes Kimberley rock art.

There has been a wide variety of ongoing biological research activities undertaken over the past 20 years.

This includes not only birds, but reptiles, mammals, insects and plant species. With the excellent facilities provided for researchers, Gluepot offers an extraordinary opportunity for students of land management and scientific research. Accordingly, the multiaward winning venture accommodates between two and eight students at a time and Roz and Jock have had students from as far afield as France, Holland and Germany.

The Kimberley Foundation Australia is unravelling a cultural tradition spanning 60,000+ years. The Aboriginal rock art of Australia and the story it tells traces the history of human transmigration. Revealing this story is the lifeblood of the foundation. It is Australia’s story. By unlocking the archives of the paleo environment and researching and dating the rock art they are learning how to conserve and protect this precious heritage and environment. https:// www.kimberleyfoundation.org.au for further information.

There is also a range of appealing two day workshops offered from time to time. These range over subjects such as an introduction to nature photography and botanical illustration, bird banding and identification courses, and Mallee vegetation. Participants are required to be fully self-sufficient and camp at one of the campgrounds. The website: www.gluepot.org provides further information for those interested.

Meg Hornabrook wrote that in October 2017 she and Felicity Dalgleish (Gardner) travelled via Mildura for a most interesting visit to Felicity’s sister Roz Bromell (Gardner) and husband Jock at Gluepot Reserve in the South Australian Mallee some 40km north of Waikerie. Formerly a 540 square kilometre marginal sheep station, Gluepot Station was purchased by Birds Australia in 1997 with funds raised through public appeal. Following the removal of domestic animals and most feral predators, the Reserve now enjoys protected area status under the Native Vegetation Act 1991. It is managed and maintained by an enthusiastic team of volunteers. Many national or regionally threatened species have been identified on Gluepot. The origin of the unusual name came from the impassibly slippery and sticky nature of the tracks following heavy rainfall and Jock spoke of being marooned for ten days when this occurred in September 2016.

Alex Sloan began her radio career as a rural reporter with the ABC in Tasmania where she quickly learnt to wear an engagement ring to sheep and cattle sales. Finally landing at the ABC in Sydney she travelled as a reporter to the United States, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong. Homesick, Alex returned to a reporter-producer position on RN breakfast. Rapidly realising she was not a morning person, Alex leapt at the opportunity to sleep in a little later and present the 666 Drive program in 1995.

It was like a homecoming and she’s refused to budge ever since.

Intermittently over the past twelve years Roz and Jock have spent more than twelve months as Rangers on the property where they are responsible for the management of three campsites, five bird hides, the excellent Visitor Information Centre and many kilometres of driving and walking tracks. Amongst their routine duties is the daily reading of the instruments in the weather station and relaying the details to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Alex is a mentoring member of Women in Media, a national initiative aimed at increasing opportunities and outcomes for all women working in the media.

The organisation has drawn together senior industry figures to offer younger women support, advice and mentoring. Alex was named the 2017 Canberra Citizen of the Year for her service to the community, through her commitment to telling the stories of Canberrans and giving them a voice during her 22 years with ABC Radio Canberra.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING AWARD WINNERS Former Yass Valley resident and community leader Gillian Storey (Kimpton) was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Mrs Storey’s citation commends her “significant service to women in regional and remote areas, to politics and public policy, and to the community of Yass”.

Roz Bromell measuring the wind velocity watched

by Meg Hornabrook and Felicity Dalgleish 21

COGA PRIZE FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE BRAEMAR COLLEGE

GGS Girls Hockey Firsts finished 4th on the ladder which was a fantastic effort. Clyde girls Julia Tallis, Jamima Jamieson, Georgie Manifold and Olivia Moore enjoyed the weekly challenge against many of the Melbourne APS schools. Olivia Moore represented GGS in the APS Hockey Team.

Awarded to a Year 11 or 12 student for service to the local community.

Luca Fattore has made an outstanding contribution and has an ongoing involvement in Junior Football Coaching dedicating his time on weekends and at least three nights a week. He is also a member of the CFA. He is very willing to assist and support younger members of the College and his local community whenever and however he can.

Pip Southey and Sophie Darling did a tremendous job playing their individual roles in the senior school musical ‘The Adams Family’. It was a huge success with the majority of students attending over the three nights.

The annual year 12 GGS v’s Geelong College girls football match was played with a big win to GGS with 66 to Geelong College 15. This is always enjoyed by everybody, and the majority of the Clyde year 12’s contributed and played with the team.

Girls football is growing both regionally and in the city. The first APS Girls Football match in Melbourne was played against two teams from Wesley and Peninsula. GGS won two games and drew one.

This is the start of Girls Football!

THE DAME ELISABETH MURDOCH AWARD

Recognises a student who has displayed generosity of spirit and/or has represented the College to an exceptional level.

Meg Somers is an excellent role model for all; adults, peers and younger students. She held the position of College Prefect, participated in all college activities (House based, year level, cocurricular and extra-curricular). She is academically very strong; Dux proximus of the College in year 12 and Dux of her year level four times.

Lizzie Brand continued her outstanding success in Equestrian, qualifying for the Nationals. Clyde also continued their winning streak in the House Soccer and Badminton.

Netball firsts finished 2nd for the season. The team consisted of Clyde girls; Serena Brookes and Fleur McLachlan and they had an amazing season.

She is quietly spoken, a good listener and communicator and worked with students and teachers independently and collaboratively at all times. She presented herself with pride, was conscientious and always had time for others. She was always prepared to assist with anything, nothing was too big or too small. She epitomises generosity of spirit at Braemar College.

A small group of very dedicated long distance hikers tackled the Kokoda Trek. Clyde girls Holly Headon, Emma Kent, Georgie Spiden and Charlotte Crole enjoyed the challenging experience. They came back with very important knowledge of world war history and had new insight that they were able to pass onto the school cohort.

COGA PRIZE FOR ENGLISH CO-RECIPIENTS GEELONG GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Georgie Manifold and Indi Kebbell were nominated from Clyde House to be part of the Lorne 160 team.

The nominated charity last year was Orange Sky Laundry.

Daniel White, GGS (boys) school captain in 2017 was one co-recipient. The second was William Patston, who wrote to thank COGA for the award. He is now studying Film and Television at Swinburne.

House Rowing is always a lot of fun with the interhouse competition. In the 8, Clyde was represented

by Jamima Jamieson, Serena Brookes, Emma Kent, Zoe Burgess, Sybila Keogh, Indi Kebbell, Olivia Moore, Georgie Manifold and Sophie Darling. The single scullers were Georgie Manifold, Olivia Moore and Emma Kent putting in a tremendous effort with Clyde coming out as the champions at the end of the day.

CLYDE HOUSE REPORT 2017/2018 Clyde House launched into Semester Two with a big win at the Athletics for the 13th year in a row! Jamima Jamieson led our team as Athletics Captain for our house and the school. Olivia Moore was Runner Up in the U/17 girls age group.

GGS had the most outstanding season at the snow ever. The school was the Champion Victorian Co-ed School for both X Country and Alpine events and top Victorian School in the Australian Championships. The team included Emma Kent, Jamima Jamieson, and Meg Watkins.

A farewell dinner for all the year 12’s was hosted by the Clyde House Parents committee, a dinner for all students in the Clyde courtyard, catered by Sarah Roe. A great farewell to send our year 12’s on their way. As the year 12’s settled into their exams, the 22

new leadership team for Clyde was announced; Captain Sybila Keogh from Barham, NSW, Vice-Captain Georgie Manifold from Hexham, Vic and Prefects Grace Hill-Smith, Dom Galetto, Lucy Canny, Bambi Thatphithakkul and Indi Kebbell.

River for 5 years in a row. The girls Second VIII won bronze in the Victorian Schoolgirls Championships and the U/19s, stroked by Georgie Manifold and well supported by Emma Kent, Annabel McLachlan, Meg Watkins, and Flora Mackenzie.

The year 10s put on a wonderful performance for their first season, and the Year 11 and 12 girls showed such dedication to the sport.

Outstanding results were received across the house in IB and VCE. A special congratulations to Sophie Hiscock in IB who was Proxime Accesserunt for 2017. Also well done to Sophie von Doussa with her IB results. Indi Kebbell received an outstanding mark in her VCE Geography, along with great results from Cici Nie.

Farewell to Stephen and Christine Meek, who have been such a big part of GGS for thirteen and a half years. They have made a huge impact on everyone’s lives at GGS, including students, staff and many families. We thank them for their contribution to the school, and we wish them all the very best.

The big news for Clyde House is the new renovation and virtual total rebuild. While we were on summer holidays, Clyde House was demolished, and rebuilding commenced on the exciting new Clyde House.

The year 12 building has remained the same with a new coat of paint, new carpet and a small extension for some additional rooms. The new year 10s were welcomed into Clyde, and have been based in the Annexe until the Clyde Reno is completed. A small number of year 11s have rotated through the annexe to keep the year 10s company. It is now July, and we are just days away from moving into the ‘new Clyde’. We are all very lucky to have the opportunity to live in the new Clyde House!

We welcomed our new Principal Mrs Rebecca Cody and her family from WA. Mrs Cody commenced at the start of term two. She is the twelfth Principal to our school and the first Australian born Principal.

She swung straight into action and fitted in very well to her new role. We were delighted that Mrs Cody attended the Clyde House Dinner at the Flying Brick Cider House at Wallington. A wonderful family night celebrating all things Clyde. Tessa McVann received the Citizenship Award for 2018 which was a very popular decision.

In 2018, the swimming sports were the first house event that allowed the girls to come together as one, since the year 10s had arrived, and it allowed the house to bond. With the house getting around each other as the girls prepared to swim, screams, chants and the ‘boomlaka’ were all belted out as the girls stood on the blocks preparing to dive. Clyde came a close 2nd. Thanks to Charlotte Crole and Tessa McVann who lead our swim team. Congratulations to Charlotte Crole who was the Open Champion, and was selected to represent the school and the APS at the Victorian Schools Association Competition in Melbourne.

Our thanks to Mrs Whitten, Mr Ellinghausen and our tutors, and Viv and Renate for the huge job in keeping Clyde and the Annexe running smoothly. It will be fantastic to bring all year levels together under the one roof and enjoy Clyde House in its new space.

We were all very saddened with the news of Mr Collins Persse passing away. His contribution to GGS over 63 years was phenomenal. There will be many tributes that will continue to come into the school and his family after such a dedicated life to Geelong Grammar. So many of us were fortunate to receive one of his hand written birthday cards and many shared a tim tam and cup of tea with him.

Clyde performed very well in the House Music, coming an overall 2nd out of the ten houses. This is our best performance in years! Thanks go to our Music Captains Lucinda Phillipson and Fleur McLachlan. Our ensembles, duet and solos were performed

by Fleur McLachlan, Celeste Towning, Pip Southey, Skye McLachlan, Harriet Furphy, Issy Atkins, Meika Dorward, Bella Canny, and Lucinda Phillipson.

Everyone joined in for the whole house choir performance.

By Olivia Moore, Yr 11 VALE Michael Dudley deBurgh Collins Persse MVO OAM MA (Oxon), OGG Fellow Master Geelong Grammar School Michael was a great friend to Clyde, the COGA and to many Clyde Old Girls and their families.

Action packed term with rowing; Girls Firsts won the Victorian Schoolgirls Championships and the Head of the River with Clyde Girls Sybila Keogh, Olivia Moore and Maddy Atkins, and coached by Alie Crowe. GGS girls have won the Head of the

Geelong Grammar School’s tribute Michael Collins Persse has been remembered fondly as a ‘legendary schoolmaster’ and ‘national treasure’ following his death on Monday 25 June. He was 86 23

years old (born on 10 November 1931).

Editor’s tribute

Geelong Grammar School was Michael’s life work.

Having graduated from Balliol College, Oxford University, with a Master of Arts (Honours in History and Theology), Michael joined the GGS staff in November 1955. For the next 63 years, Michael served our School community with distinction, becoming a dear friend and mentor to many. He was Head of History for 40 years, edited The Corian from 19661992 (described by the Royal Historical Society of Victoria as “surely the most idiosyncratic and eccentric school publication in the land”), developed the School’s Archives and was appointed Curator of the School in 1994.

Michael’s knowledge of Clyde and The Hermitage was as extensive as his knowledge of Geelong Grammar School. My father, John Ponder, was the Classics master at GGS and taught ancient Greek and Latin. He was a history buff with an abiding love of books so he and Michael got on famously.

They also shared a common background in their university education at Cambridge and Oxford respectively.

Alongside his teaching duties my father was Hawker Librarian, editor of The Corian and from 1950 the school’s first official archivist. Geoff Laurenson, the current school archivist, wrote “I occasionally find handwritten labels on the back of items in the Archives which were placed there by your father. The work your father did in those early years on the Archives set things up nicely for Michael, who did an amazing job of collecting material relating to the history of the School. As a result, I’m very grateful to both MCP and your father. Without them, the Archives may not have come into existence!”

To celebrate GGS’s centenary in 1957, he wrote the pageant play, Their Succeeding Race. It was later published as a book; the first of many that Michael authored, co-authored or edited, including WellOrdered Liberty: A Portrait of Geelong Grammar School, 1855-1995, the first volume of the School’s biographical register Geelong Grammarians, 18551913 and In the Light of Eternity: Selected Writings.

I remember once saying to Michael that I thought I was the only person who had been schooled at GGS, The Hermitage and Clyde. Without needing to think he replied that there was another. I needed to look at a previous Cluthan to remember it was Amanda McFarlane (Gubbins). What a memory he had!

The Michael Collins Persse Archives Centre was established in 2005, Michael became one of three inaugural Old Geelong Grammarian Fellows in 2006, and he received an Order of Australia Medal in 2017 for his service to education and history.

Our School was blessed to have known Michael’s wisdom and generosity, his boundless loyalty and affection for our community, along with his extraordinary gift for connecting with people, and recounting moments and milestones. His contribution to and curation of our School’s story, spirit and character have been remarkable. “He became an embodiment of the School – no School function was properly attended unless Michael was there, no School publication was complete without a contribution from Michael,” Times obituarist and long-time friend Mark McGinness wrote. “He took to writing to every boy and girl in the school for their birthday, every letter handwritten in fountain pen and at least 100 words long. A prodigious correspondent – he was estimated to write 3,000 letters a year. One of his correspondents was the Queen herself.”

My friend Sarah Brown and her brother Ian Brown were close to Michael all their lives and Ian was instrumental in ensuring Michael became a Member of the Royal Victorian Order for his services to the Prince of Wales. Sarah and Ian’s grandfather was the former GGS headmaster Francis Brown; their mother, Jean Brown (Howatson) and sister Jan Brown were COGs. Sarah rang me a couple of days before Michael died to tell me he was in in palliative care and longing for the ‘flights of angels’ to carry him away. Sarah later wrote: “Our families, all of whom were past students of GGS, Clyde and The Hermitage, would be but two of many similar I think, and Michael’s knowledge of these “school families” and their genealogies was impeccable. Michael’s reach was incredible really; I don’t think I’ve ever known someone who was so connected with people, and had the capacity to remember so much about them. He was always so kind and interested in me when we met.”

Michael was Prince Charles’s History tutor during his two terms at GGS in 1966 and he developed a close relationship with HRH. He attended the Prince’s investiture as Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle in 1969, his marriage to Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul’s Cathedral in 1981 and his 50th birthday party at Buckingham Palace in 1998. In 2015, the Queen appointed him a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) for his services to the Prince of Wales, who presented him the medal in Sydney.

For me Michael’s kindness was epitomised when I asked him to speak at my brother Richard’s funeral.

Despite being on holiday overseas when I made the request he delivered an extensive and moving eulogy on the day he arrived back in Australia.

From the personal recollections of Julia Ponder.

24

CLYDE HOUSE GIRLS WITH A CLYDE SCHOOL CONNECTION – 2018

Student

Relationship

Clyde Old Girl

Married Name

Clyde Years

Josie Happell (Yr11)

Grand-daughter Great-niece

Helen Macdougall Jenny Shaw

Happell Happell

Cl’1947-53 Cl’1950-55

Grace Hill-Smith (Yr12) Grand-daughter

Helen Lane

Hill-Smith

Cl’1934-36

Bridget Hood (Yr10)

Grand-daughter

Jan LeMessurier

Wheal

Cl’1960-62

Flora Jamieson (Yr11)

Great-niece Great-great-niece Great-great-niece Distant relative

Carol Jamieson Betty Anderson Flo Jamieson Joanne Jamieson

Hancock Jamieson Calvert Jackson

Cl’1949-54 Cl’1923-24 Cl’1917-19 Cl’1943-49

Giselle Lansell (Yr12)

Great-niece

Peggy Lansell

Scott

Cl’1933-37

Georgie Manifold (Yr12) Great-niece Great-niece

Elizabeth Manifold Prue Manifold

Landy Plowman

Cl’1955-59 Cl’1957-63

Amy McEachern (Yr10) Grand-daughter

Anna Harvey

McEachern

Cl’1962-63

Mia McEachern (Yr10)

Anna Harvey

McEachern

Cl’1962-63

Chloe McGregor (Yr12) Great-niece

Patricia Mackinnon

McKenzie

Cl’1945-51

Annabel (Yr11) and Great-niece Fleur McLachlan (Yr12)

Sylvia Clarke

McLachlan

Cl’1960-67

Olivia Moore (Yr11)

Grand-daughter Great-niece Great-niece Great-niece Great-niece Great-niece

Mary Murphy Elizabeth Murphy Anne Murphy Susan Finlay Joan Kinnear Penny Weatherley

Moore a’Beckett Armitt Sutherland Moore Lewisohn

Cl’1931-37 Cl’1931-38 Cl’1938-45 Cl’1954-59 Cl’1940-45 Cl’1957-62

Ava (Yr11) and Claudia Nance (Yr12)

Great-niece Great-niece Distant relative Distant relative

Anne Coy Jill Coy Jane Coy Belinda Coy

Hamilton Meredith-Smith Hallows Barclay

Cl’1951-58 Cl’1945-51 Cl’1956-62 Cl’1958-64

Sophie Pearson (Yr10)

Great-niece Great-niece Great-niece Great-niece Great-niece Great-great-niece

Amanda Bayles Aprilla Bayles Ayliffe Bayles Sally Creswick Vivienne Knox-Knight Elisabeth Greene

Elliott Caldwell Hodgson Bayles Ritchie Murdoch

Cl’1964-69 Cl’1964-69 Cl’1957-63 Cl’1963-70 Cl’1951-53 Cl’1922-26

Arabella Ritchie (Yr10)

Grand-daughter Great-niece

Eda Beggs Christina Beggs

Ritchie Hindhaugh

Cl1957-59 Cl’1957-61

Julia Sinclair (Yr10)

Great-niece

Joan Kinnear

Moore

Cl’1940-45

Pascale Southey (Yr11)

Grand-daughter Great-niece

Valerie Clarke Margaret Southey

Southey Mims

Cl’1935-38 Cl’1936-38

Georgie Spiden (Yr12)

Grand-daughter Great-niece Great-niece Great-great-niece Great-grand-daughter

Ann Ross Helen Ross Rosemary Ross Mary Ross Susan Staughton

Spiden Taylor Borthwick Winter-Irving Ross

Cl’1956-61 Cl’1958-63 Cl’1959-65 Cl’1935-40 Cl’1929-31

Lulu Morton (Yr11)

Amelia Ritchie (Yr11)

Grand-daughter

25

VALE WE RECORD WITH REGRET THE FOLLOWING DEATHS

Faith Holmes Brown (Watson) 9 November 1931 – 12 October 2017 Clyde 1944-49

Rosemary MacPherson Paton (Watson) 29 June 1929 – 5 December 2017 Clyde 1944-47

Josephine Amanda Cavill 24 January 1956 – 8 September 2017 Clyde 1971-73

Dorothy Read (Temperley) 29 October 1915 – 31 January 2018 Clyde 1929-33

Athol Parker Clapham (Adams) 21 July 1930 – 19 February 2018 Clyde 1940-47

Margaret Gowan Robinson (Begg) 20 October 1935 – 5 March 2018 Clyde 1947-52

Ruth Elaine Griffiths (Austin) 1 July 1932 – 10 November 2016 Clyde 1943-47

June Alice Rogers (Chirnside) 24 June 1922 – 16 September 2017 Clyde 1934-39

Olwen Annarella Hardiman (Smyth) 15 September 1921 – 14 August 2018 Clyde 1934-38

Sally Seng Hpa (Donaldson) 15 June 1959 – 30 December 2017 Clyde 1974-76

Joan Mildred Macrae (McIntosh) 25 February 1918 – 18 September 2017 Clyde 1934-35

Pamela Mary Kentish Sinclair (Clyne) 19 October 1942 – 24 July 2018 Clyde 1953-56

Margaret Hamilton Makeham (Coutts) 5 July 1929 – 4 June 2017 Clyde 1945-46

Katherine Pepita Skues (Shaw) 11 February 1917 – 12 September 2015 Clyde 1927-34

Beverly May Mason 10 June 1938 – 12 August 2017 Clyde 1951-54

Siew Tin (Ruth) Teh 20 April 1952 – 24 October 2017 Clyde 1970

Josephine Amanda Cavill 24 January 1956 – 8 September 2017 Clyde 1971-73

efforts of Jane Hopkins, Robin Abrecht, Jennifer Robinson, Kerry Whittaker, Amanda Cavill and Caroline Reed.

Amanda was born in England, the eldest child of Richard (Dick) Cavill and Jennifer Rau and stepdaughter of Lena Cavill. Amanda’s brother, Bill attended GGS and is married to Sarah Cavill (Staughton). She had three step-brothers, Alastair, Malcolm and Stuart and a step-sister Joanna.

Post Clyde, Amanda briefly attended Australian National University, resident at Bergman College and then moved back to Melbourne to chase many and varied job opportunities. Her career included sales and marketing for Vogue magazine, assistant producer for 3LO Melbourne radio; she was also the first female ABC radio news presenter in Melbourne. Following a year long stint in Italy in her late 20s, Amanda moved to London and worked for The Guardian selling advertising space.

During her time at Clyde, Amanda was distinguished by her advanced knowledge of literature and an ability for pithy literary allusions and quotations which none of the rest of us had the wit to understand! Paradoxically, her favourite pastime was reading somewhat trashy romantic novels such as Mills and Boon and Georgette Heyer who she fiercely defended as a high quality writer. In later life, this penchant evolved into an insatiable consumption of crime novels. She was on the Library, Dressmaking and Collide Committees. She also participated in the Inter-House Debating Competitions and school plays.

Ed: Collide was the school newspaper which came into existence in first term 1972. It was the combined

After returning to Australia, Amanda moved permanently to Canberra to take up the position of editor of the Canberra Real Estate Times and around 1997 she joined the SBS Radio News division. As Chief Political Correspondent, Amanda covered seven elections, six Prime Ministers and more budgets than she would 26

have cared to remember. Her position gave her access to interview some of the most prominent international political figures over this 20 year period.

paying guests to The Point, developing a poultry farm and a caravan park, and ultimately sub-dividing the property. Harry Shaw developed aviation and boat building businesses.

Pete began her early schooling at home, tutored by a governess known as “Teddy”. She then boarded at Clyde from the age of nine to seventeen. She was in a number of sporting teams. Her son Derek says that although she claimed to dislike many aspects of the School, particularly the cold, she formed many strong friendships during that period, including with Joan Macrae (McIntosh Cl’35).

On a personal note, Amanda was non-conformist, wickedly funny and forthright with an incisive intelligence. Such was her gusto and effervescence that her closest friends describe Amanda as a Spanish galleon in full sail and like Aunty Mame! She is much loved and missed by her family and the many friends gathered from her varied walks of life.

After finishing school Pete studied the Art Course at Melbourne Tech, now known as RMIT University, also attended by her father when it was known as the Working Man’s College. Joan Macrae was also a student there. Following graduation, Pete was reportedly offered a teaching job in Tasmania but couldn’t bear the thought of presenting to a classroom of giggling girls. Consequently she chose to work as a nurse for a Collins Street dentist; Ken Skues. At the beginning of WW2 she also helped produce armaments at Keffers in Beaumaris. On 1 August 1942, Ken Skues the dentist, now in his Army captain’s uniform, and his nurse Pepita Shaw (wearing her great-grandmother’s limerick lace veil) were married at All Saints Anglican Church in East St Kilda. Ken went off to training camps elsewhere in Australia with the 2nd/16th Western Australian Infantry Battalion and then on to Borneo and New Guinea, where he not only attended to the dental needs of the Allied troops, but also the Japanese prisoners of war. With the Japanese invasion of Singapore a number of British residents were evacuated to Australia and accommodated at the Shaw family home. In later years Pete and Ken enjoyed reciprocal hospitality whenever they visited the UK.

Amanda lived in Red Hill Canberra with her husband of 20 years Frank Nizynski and her two adored dogs. She died from cervical cancer, two and a half years after diagnosis.

Information from 1972 and 1973 Cluthans and the obituary written by Kate Coulter (Crowther).

Katherine Pepita Skues (Shaw) 11 February 1917 – 12 September 2015 Clyde 1927-34 Pepita, always known as Pete, was born in England, the eldest of four daughters of Violet Willis and Harry Shaw who were married in the UK. Her father was in the UK at the outbreak of WW1 and stayed on to serve with the Royal Flying Corps.

After the war the Shaws returned to Australia with Pete and a young sister, Patricia (Pat) Glass (Shaw Cl’35), initially to the 30,000 acre Shaw family property, Wooriwyrite in the Western District of Victoria. They later downsized to a 25 acre property in Beaumaris, The Point, bought by Pete’s grandfather, Thomas Turner Shaw, which had been owned by the Melbourne Mayor and wine merchant, Matthew Lang. Pete’s cousin, Mary Mackay-Sim (Cobb Cl’35), spent a lot of time with them at The Point, as she lived nearby in Brighton, and her sister Pat later went to live with the Cobb family.

Following the War, Pete and Ken lived in rented accommodation in Melbourne, including a house in St Kilda Street, Brighton, and then in a flat in the old family residence. During the 1940s their two children Derek and Diana Skues were born.

Pete inherited many of the qualities of her parents.

The strength of character of her mother Violet, known as Mate, and the sense of fun and whimsy of her father Harry Shaw, known by some as ‘the Major’. She was the first of four daughters, outlived only by her sister Pat. Their youngest sister, Rhonda Dennis, was tragically killed in a light aircraft accident in 1975 and the next youngest, Raithlyn Burns, wife of Creighton Burns, died in 2006.

In 1948, Ken bought one of the early blocks of subdivided land at The Point. Apparently Thomas Turner Shaw had persuaded him to do so over the family billiard table. Ken and Pete built a house on the acre block in 1951 designed by the architects to make the most of the 180 degree view of Port Phillip Bay. Ken died in 1990 and Pete continued to live at Beach Road for many years.

The Shaw family’s privileged life came to a halt with financial misfortune, exacerbated by the stock market crash of 1929. However Pete’s mother, Violet Shaw developed a number of small businesses to keep the family financially afloat, including inviting

The Shaw girls were all brought up on horseback, a result of the pastoral background of the family. Pete taught her children Derek and Diana to ride from a young age and always kept a pony for them in a pad27

wounded officers at a London hospital. Fortunately, Alex survived and they were married in Dublin on 28 May 1917.

dock by their house on Beach Road.

Every year Pete’s mother Mate arranged Christmas lunch for the extended family at her created house Pointside, which had originally been the stables at The Point. The family included Pete’s sisters; Pat, Raithlyn and Rhonda and they were always joined

by Mary ‘Mollie’ Turner Shaw (Cl’22), youngest sister of Harry Shaw. In 1958 the family gathered at the Dennis property, Eeyeuk, next to the original Shaw family property Wooriwyrite.

Joan was born in London on 25 February 1918 and the family came back to Australia. Alex was a buyer for Ball & Welch, a Melbourne department store.

They returned to London in 1920-1929 and until Joan was eleven years old there were trips back and forth to Australia. Her brother Ian, later ViceAdmiral Sir Ian McIntosh RN, was born in Melbourne and Joan’s sister Sheila was born in London.

After 1929 Alex accepted a job with the Shell Oil Company and they relocated to Warragul in Gippsland. In 1934 Joan continued her education at Clyde, her fifth and final school. Also in 1934 her parents built a house in Toorak with a working dairy at the end of the street.

While in Beaumaris Pete became involved in the newly formed Beaumaris Art Group. She and Joan Macrae worked together producing items of pottery, generally made by Joan and decorated by Pete, and they taught others by holding classes in the garage.

Violet Shaw was chair of the Beaumaris Auxiliary of the Royal Children’s Hospital charitable arm. Pete helped by producing posters for fund raising events, designing Christmas cards and she formed a sewing group among her friends. A regular event was the annual amateur theatre production by the Pointside Players, often held in the Pointside garden; a young Barry Humphries commenced his stage career in one of these productions.

After Clyde, Joan enrolled at the Melbourne Technical College to study commercial art but discovered the love of her life, pottery, and changed direction.

Joan described the feeling of handling clay as arriving home although learning about firing and glazing the pots was considered ‘unladylike’ so she had to teach herself these skills later on.

She embraced her extended family; Derek’s wife, Deb Skues (McMillan), Diana’s husband Richard plus her six grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She loved to read, especially biographies, and was provided with talking books by Vision Australia as her eyesight diminished. She was always welcoming and kept in touch with a wide circle of family and friends, who greatly miss her engaging warmth and sense of humour.

During this time her busy social life included Highland Dancing where she met her future husband, a shy young man, Colin Macrae. As she later expressed, this was a difficult time with the Great Depression, the rise of Hitler and the realisation that “the war to end all wars” was a false hope. Despite her mother being a member of the League of Nations and all the attempts to prevent war Joan felt betrayed by the older generation.

Adapted from the eulogy by her son, Derek Skues.

Colin and Joan married on 6 June 1940. The war separated them for much of the next five years. Because of her art course at Melbourne Tech Joan worked as a tracer for Armoured Fighting Vehicles doing drawings of the Australian-designed Cruiser Tank. During this time she saved her pay and was able to purchase the land for their future home in Beaumaris from the Shaw family.

Joan Mildred Macrae (McIntosh) 25 February 1918 – 18 September 2017 Clyde 1934-35 Joan attended Clyde from 1933 to 1935. She made many close friendships, some enduring all her long life, particularly with sisters Pete and Pat Shaw.

Reminiscing, she recalled sleeping on an open veranda and waking to find a layer of frost on her pillow. The blankets were protected by a rubber sheet.

She didn’t dare tell her mother!

Their first child Ian was born in 1945 in Adelaide where Joan was staying with her parents until Colin was demobbed. Joan returned to Melbourne and they began building a home on the block in Beaumaris.

This was their only home. Mary was born in 1952 and not long after Joan and Pete Skues (Shaw) began making pots and giving lessons in the garage.

Joan’s parents and grandparents were all born in Australia of Scottish ancestry. When WW1 was declared Joan’s father, Alexander McIntosh, paid his own way to England and joined the colonial regiment King Edward Horse serving on the Western Front until peace was declared in November 1918.

Alex’s fiancée, Islay McArthur and her mother sailed for England in 1915 to be near him. Islay became a Volunteer Aid Detachment nurse, caring for

All the while other young families were building their homes and their lives in Beaumaris, including Joan’s sister Sheila, her husband Bill and their chil28

dren, Margy and Peter. The Beaumaris community was unusually artistic and creative for that time. Colin was a founder member of the Beaumaris Tree Preservation Society while Joan was a founder member of the Beaumaris Art Group where she exhibited and taught pottery for 25 years. At home she made thousands of pots (10,000 in one ten year period!) and exhibited elsewhere, sometimes pulling ‘pinging’ pots out of the kiln on opening day.

ing both lost their spouses they joined forces, enjoying many trips together and visiting each other in England and Australia.

Joan never lost her fascination with the world and that included the latest technology which she embraced with enthusiasm.

She loved her computer, scanner, printer, digital camera and iPad, every day keeping in touch with friends and family all over the world and was tickled pink that she could take photographs with her iPad. She discovered the joy of making new friends through U3A while studying Shakespeare, history and joining a book club right up until her death. She was fortunate to be well enough to stay in her own home all her life; she was determined to be independent and live life to the full. Joan never missed an opportunity to be with friends, truly an inspiration to all who knew her.

As if she didn’t have enough to do Joan was also busy making everything by hand, including the family clothes and bread. She learnt to spin and attended a building course, at South Melbourne Tech, when she wanted to work on repairs to the house. Joan was definitely the handy woman around the house.

This astounding woman studied German and later Italian in her lack of spare time! Following Colin’s retirement they at last had the time and money to travel. They visited friends and family in England and travelled extensively through Europe.

Adapted from an article written by her daughter, Mary Smeaton.

Beverly May Mason 10 June 1938 – 12 August 2017 Clyde 1951-54

Mary, their daughter was married in the wonderful garden they established and the invitations were printed on paper made by Joan. This was soon followed by the joy of grandchildren, for Joan this of course meant making things for them. Her granddaughter Polly, as a small child, proudly stated that Grannie “makes everything including cars!” It was during this period that saw the start of the fabulous era of doll-making, encapsulating in miniature all her accumulated craft skills. Every part of every doll was handmade. Joan hand-embroidered their beautiful faces, would dye wool using natural dyes, spin the wool and knit tiny jumpers. She collected long pine needles to weave into hats, tatted lace to edge their underwear and of course tiny pots to carry in their hand-stitched leather bags. Two of Joan’s dolls reside in the National Museum of Australia along with an oral history of her creative life

Beverly grew up in the Murchison and Nagambie district. She was the eldest daughter of Keith and Edna Mason. She and her only sister Patricia Bull (Mason) were both sent to Clyde as were her cousins Kathleen Cust (Mason) and Ailsa Simmie (Mason).

Beverly was the Form Captain of VC in 1952 and was in the Junior Running Team and Junior Baseball IX and on the Music Club Committee. On leaving school she became a mothercraft nurse and travelled throughout eastern Australia working for many friends and family.

She was a very keen horse person with hunting and pony club instruction being a big part of her life. She was also a keen gardener and went on many garden trips with her sister and friends. One of her main interests was livestock and she ran her own small cattle operation around Kilmore and Euroa until moving to Wagga in 2009 to be closer to family. Beverly kept in touch with many of her school friends and was a keen member of the Clyde Old Girls Association and the Clyde Old Girls Branch of the Red Cross. Her great nephews Rupert and Hugh Bull were a great joy to her over the last few years. She passed away in Wagga in August 2017 after a long illness.

In 1990 Joan and Colin celebrated 50 years of marriage and a devoted and creative relationship. It was a lovely occasion with many friends who had been at the wedding sharing the day. And then there was more travel while Joan had a stint in Perugia to improve her Italian.

After her beloved Colin died in 1994, Joan regrouped and began a new phase of her life that included study, more travel and real possession of the garden, which she evolved over time to suit her gradually limited energies. She also reunited with her beloved and now distinguished younger brother Ian, who had spent most of his life in England. Hav-

Adapted from the notes of her brother-in-law John Bull; edited to include information from Cluthans.

29

just a few. She was also heavily involved, over many years, in putting together the Paton family tree, and the organisation of the 150 year reunion of the Paton clan, held in Tallangatta in 1988.

Rosemary MacPherson Paton (Watson) 29 June 1929 – 5 December 2017 Clyde 1944-47 Rosemary was born in Albury on 29 June 1929 to Kenneth and Lenore Watson (Austin) of De Kerilleau, Wodonga. She grew up in a happy home with her older brothers, Ian and Bob and younger sister, Faith Holmes Brown (Watson).

Whilst raising her family, Rosemary’s creativity shifted to a variety of crafts – almost too numerous to list! She was one of the founding committee members for ‘The Hub’ craft shop in Tallangatta, and was a regular contributor with her own hand crafted goods and volunteering her time in running the store. She also worked at the Tallangatta Hospital for a period, running craft activities with the nursing home patients. She took a particular interest in the Albury Spinners & Weavers group, which led to running her own small flock of coloured sheep, dying and spinning the fleeces, tanning hides and felting. Her home was never short of art and craft supplies for personal or school projects and Rosemary not only taught her children to sew, knit and cook, but how to be creative with what was available.

Her childhood was one of relative privilege but also of hard work helping out in the home and on the property. All the family had a great love of horses; they rode regularly and competed in local shows.

They enjoyed swimming parties and catching yabbies in the Wodonga Creek. As the two younger children, Rosemary and Faith were charged with various responsibilities, including keeping the water pump fuelled, helping out with mustering, and milking cows by hand.

Her early schooling was undertaken at home with a governess before attending Woodstock Ladies College in Albury. She then went on to Clyde in 1944 and was on the Art Club (as Secretary and President), Cluthan and Camera Club Committees and was a Prefect and on the Hockey XI team.

Rosemary was always a generous hostess and enjoyed social gatherings at home with family and friends. She was an avid collector of recipes, and enjoyed trying out new dishes.

Rosemary then attended what is now RMIT in Melbourne to undertake a course in Dress Design, which she didn’t particularly enjoy, apart from drawing classes, but from which she discovered a talent and passion for art. She transferred courses to complete an Associate Diploma in Advertising Art and on completion, worked in advertising in Melbourne.

She told a story of ‘looking out her window at work watching ships docking in Port Phillip Bay, and longing to sail away to travel the world’. And so she did! Rosemary travelled by ship to London in 1954, meeting on-board a lifelong friend Nancy Cole, with whom she hitch-hiked throughout Europe. In between their travels, Rosemary found work in London with a publishing firm where she produced drawings for The New International Illustrated Encyclopaedia.

Rosemary was a very proud grandmother or ‘Gran’ and great-grandmother. They also were beneficiaries of her art and craft skills – either being gifted something hand-made, being taught how to knit or sew, or just helping out with one of her projects. In November 2004 she lost her husband, Charlie. True to Rosemary’s strength of character she continued to live at Kinnoull until Feb 2012 when she moved to a unit in the Riverwood Retirement Village in Albury.

It was a big change but she quickly formed friendships with her neighbours, other residents and staff who were a major factor in helping her settle into ‘town life’.

Adapted from the eulogies of her children and edited to include information from Cluthans.

Faith Holmes Brown (Watson) 9 November 1931 – 12 October 2017 Clyde 1944-49

Eventually, Rosemary returned to Australia early in 1957 and rekindled her friendship with Charles Paton, whom she had met through his sisters Carol and Margaret. In July of the same year they were wed in St Matthews Church. They settled in to married life in the Mitta Valley at Kinnoull and started their family. Four children kept her pretty busy, but Rosemary was always keen to be involved in community activity, including the local Presbyterian Church, CWA, Red Cross Calling, local shows, all her children’s sporting activities and school committees, to name

Faith was born on 9 November 1931, in the historic homestead of her family’s property De Kerrilleau in Wodonga. Of four children, she was the youngest child and second daughter of Kenneth ‘KD’ Watson and Lenore Watson (Austin) who was always known as ‘Mrs KD Watson’. Her mother Lenore was the only daughter of Mr and Mrs Ernest G Austin of Borriyalloak, Skipton. Ken Watson was the second son of Mrs George Darnton Watson of Clovelly, Myoora Road, Toorak. They were married in September 30

1924, with Lenore attended by Claudia Palmer, Venora Watson and Joan Chirnside.

by their mother on the back of early photos: “Rosemary on Possum”, “Faith on Princess”. There are photos of Faith on horseback fully turned out in Spring Street during the Royal Melbourne Show before WW2. She was to ride in Melbourne again much later, but the city block was off limits to recreational horses by the 1950’s. The Watsons bred their own horses, having stallions and brood mares on the property. Her father was involved in both the Wodonga and Albury Agricultural Show Societies.

Faith and Rosemary were honoured to be present with other family members at the recent ceremony to open the agricultural society’s rebuilt KD Watson Memorial Hall at the Albury showgrounds.

Faith had two older brothers Ian and Bob Watson, and an older sister Rosemary MacPherson Paton (Watson). De Kerilleau was known originally as Wodonga Station and it was the earliest pastoral holding on the Victorian side of the Murray River, taken up only ten years after Hume and Hovell went through. It was named after a French political fugitive Gabriel Louis Huon de Querilleau who arrived in Australia in the 1790s and whose descendants were the first owners of Wodonga Station. Ken Watson purchased De Kerilleau in 1922. As a local councillor for many years, he was a keen supporter of the community, welcoming local Girl Guides and church groups for youth camps on the property, providing transport and ‘unlimited quantities of milk’.

In early childhood, Faith was educated by governesses. She recalled one governess who would wait at the garden gate with a branch torn from the nearby quince tree to admonish children returning late from playing in the paddocks. One governess however, known affectionately as ‘Mickey’ (Miss Peg Steele), remained a favourite and stayed with the family until the outbreak of the war. Miss Steele subsequently spent over 25 years as a staff member at Bostock House, GGS. Faith kept in touch with Miss Steele throughout her life, as she did with many of her former teachers and mentors.

The ‘Watson sisters’ had a carefree and quite privileged childhood, though they were always expected to ‘pitch in’ and contribute. Before the war, the family had numerous household staff and farm estate employees. Dinner was a formal affair, however Faith recalled lukewarm evening meals as the food was carried to the main house from the kitchen, inconveniently located in a separate building. The two sisters often walked down the hill to the dairy and back, carrying milk supplies for the cook. With the property still running on horse power, Faith and Rosemary both learnt to drive the draft horses, pulling a dray around the hills to feed out hay to stock.

Snakes were a part of life at De Kerilleau, appearing in the cellar or the power generator, on household windowsills or in the Wodonga Creek where the children swam. Faith’s mother kept a gun by the back door just to deal with snakes trespassing near the house.

The Watson girls attended primary school at Woodstock School for Girls in Albury, before being sent away to boarding school. Early school reports showed Faith had a mixed attitude to academic life: “Tries hard and yet I think Faith could exert herself a little more”.

Faith and Rosemary both began boarding at Clyde in 1944. Rosemary left in 1947, and Faith in 1949. She was on a number of committees; the Gardening Club (as Treasurer, 1946-47) the Birthday League, Sports, CSS and Library. She was in the senior Basketball VII team in 1948, and in 1949 Faith was Clyde School Captain. She participated fully in the fun of House entertainments and fancy dress nights. In 1949, the prefects dressed up as the cast of the Wizard of Oz. Apparently “Faith Watson was the lion and bounded happily around the dining room”. As you do!

Horses and riding were a big part of Faith’s life. Lenore Watson was an accomplished horsewoman who taught her children to ride. Entries and results from the children’s hack classes were recorded in detail

It was a unique experience to be part of an all-girl boarding school during war time, and later as Australia emerged into post-war recovery. Clyde students learned to be resourceful, independent and prepared to help out with manual tasks. They also stoically endured the frosts and snow of bleak midwinters on Mt Macedon. Brisk country air was considered character building; misbehaviour resulted in tasks like pulling up tough bracken in the school grounds. Faith’s school reports noted that “… (she) has worked very well and made satisfactory progress

L-R: Sisters Rosemary Paton and Faith Brown 31

… though she has been ‘off-honours’ after being rather noisy and unpunctual in the house. However she is always willing to help in an emergency and is a most capable worker”. In 1949 headmistress Olga Hay wrote that Faith was “… a most conscientious and reliable school captain who has consistently done her best. I have a great respect for her sterling qualities of character. I’m afraid Faith’s schoolwork may have suffered because of all the other things she has done. I am very grateful for all she has given to the school”. Although she was never really a scholar, Faith loved her school years and forged many lifelong friendships there.

in local affairs, and explored SE Australia with various Historical Society and National Trust tours.

They loved being involved with all their grandchildren. They had one major overseas trip to The Mediterranean, Europe and North America, before Malcolm became unwell and they moved to Riverwood Retirement Village in Albury. When Malcolm died Faith stayed on in their little home, living independently in spite of her profound vision impairment.

Faith died peacefully at The Mercy Palliative Care Unit on 12 October 2017. Her last conversation, albeit in an altered state of mind, was all about the lovely party she was having … no doubt in her old teachers’ eyes, being a bit noisy.

After leaving Clyde, she spent two years living and studying at Invergowrie Homecraft Hostel in Hawthorn. The Hostel was the first of its kind and provided a course of domestic training for 46 full-time students, in conditions similar to a normal home of the era. While in Melbourne, Faith was able to pursue her love of riding, exercising her horse on The Tan track around the Botanical Gardens and qualifying to compete in the famous Garryowen equestrian event at the Royal Melbourne Show.

Sources include the eulogy provided by her son Rod Brown, The Cluthan 1944-50, the internet and Trove NLA. June Alice Rogers (Chirnside) 24 June 1922 – 16 September 2017 Clyde 1934-39 June was born in 1922 at her beloved Carranballac near Skipton in the Western District of Victoria. She was the second child of Gordon and Mavis Chirnside (Thiel), the first being her sister Judy BeyMuftyzade (Chirnside) followed by two brothers, Robert and Russell.

Faith’s father Ken Watson died in October 1951. She returned home to live at De Kerrilleau, using her domestic skills to help her mother to run the house and care for the garden. She continued her equestrian pursuits, competing on the local show circuit and riding into Albury for visits to the farrier. She catered for many house parties and picnics hosted by the Watsons at home. One guest of the family was young farmer Malcolm Brown. On 13 November 1954 the engagement was announced of Faith Watson and Malcolm Brown, only son of Mr and Mrs Vernon Brown of Kilchamaig, Talangatta, a 280-acre dairy and cattle breeding property.

At home there were maids, cooks, butlers and chauffeurs all of whom were included as part of the family. There were horses to ride, a beautiful river to aquaplane and swim in. There were trips to the theatre and ballet in Melbourne, going backstage afterwards to meet the stars. Regularly entertaining the likes of Oscar Hammerstein, Yehudi Menuhin (one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century) and star tennis players, all enjoyed visits to Carranballac.

After their marriage, Faith and Malcolm lived with the Brown family at Kilchamaig in Talangatta. Their first house arrived on the back of trucks and Faith created the first of her beautiful gardens there. In December 1960, the Browns moved to a new property, also called Kilchamaig at Mountain Creek where they raised their three children Rod, Angus and Janet Brown. Malcolm’s father later came to live with them and they extended the house. In early years, the property produced wool, hoggets and fat lambs, while Faith and Malcolm developed a profitable beef grazing herd. In 1977 they registered the Kilchamaig Pastoral Company of Mountain Creek, via Culcairn.

The children had a governess to educate them until June and her sister were sent off to Clyde. Not long after arriving they were given an arithmetic test containing algebra. She had never heard of it! She spoke little of her accomplishments at school but had cups for tennis and athletics. She made wonderful friends there who remained best friends all her life.

Holidays were spent toing and froing to Adelaide and Victor Harbour where the papers would announce the arrival of the Chirnside sisters. Family holidays to Portland for a month or so, when the staff would all move next door and the horses, milking cows and chooks would all be taken too. June said it was like a Worths travelling Circus. Teenage years came with lots of parties and suitors. All very eligible bachelors vying for attention. Then one particular young man turned up, just returned from a

In 1988 Faith and Malcolm made the difficult decision to sell Kilchamaig, retire to Albury and settle in St James Crescent where they both enjoyed gardening. They became involved with the Sheep Show Society and Albury Show Society, had a keen interest 32

season of buffalo shooting with Tom Cole in the Northern Territory in the late 1930s. He had bought Mt Widderin, a property close by. June found this dark handsome man irresistible and fascinating with such amazing experiences in the far north. She was seventeen when she met Welding Samuel Rogers, was engaged at eighteen and married on her 20th birthday. It was to be a marriage made in heaven; they were devoted to each other. The wedding was during the war in 1942. Sam was in the First Independent Company (later the commandoes) based in the Solomon Islands. So there were always anxious times.

bought a paddock at Ebor called One Tree. It was perfect; no house, no water, no power, no fences, no yards. At last Sam’s dream place! So they borrowed a caravan and put it beside a creek and moved in July 1972. The first lot of shopping froze under the caravan as did the water in the caravan. They paid a visit to Werribee Park, the Italianate mansion built by her great grandfather and his brother, (which was then run as a Jesuit a monastery) and, on the way out, as they passed the beautiful massive cast iron gates with the eagle family crest looking down at them, Sam said “Well old girl, back to the caravan”.

The caravan was later shifted to another site as the previous owner said “it would be half a coat warmer there”.

Two years after they were married their house burnt to the ground in a bushfire, the fire so hot they could not even rebuild with the original bluestone. They lost everything except the most important things as far as Sam was concerned; the Purdey shotguns and the fly fishing rods! They rebuilt the house but only a year later Sam decided to move to more undeveloped country in Gippsland, near Wilsons Prom.

June as ever continued as if she was still at Carranballac. Entertaining and cooking on the premises, Christmas lunches in the entertaining tent. Then came the cottage from the Oakey Scheme and Sam couldn’t miss the opportunity. Slowly and surely they started adding rooms, doing everything themselves, block by block. Of course there were all their dear friends as well who helped until they ran out of visitors for their fear of being handed a shovel or crow bar. When Sam became ill they moved to Lynches Road in Armidale, where June again made a charming, warm and welcoming house. They would only be together there for twelve months before Sam died. June carried on in her inimitable way secured by her family and friends.

Amanda June Cunliffe (Rogers) was five and Lockyer Sam Rogers was two when they moved into what was described as the “shack” but was a rather nice old weatherboard cottage and Timothy Welding Rogers was born there. They rented for a while until Sam thought a move nearer to Inverloch, would be better country. He managed to find another wreck of a house and carted it to the undeveloped bush block.

June’s mother cried on seeing it for the first time and said “Darling you cannot live here”, but of course she did and made it home.

She became president of the CWA and organised exotic trips to Melbourne for the theatre and asked the Counsel General from Japan and his wife to come to Leongatha South where she gave a presentation on flower arranging. She was terrified no one would come given the war was not long over and there was still animosity towards the Japanese but typically she made everyone welcome and it was a great success.

June always had time for everyone. She adored her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was generous not only with her love, but with all things. She got so much pleasure out of giving pleasure to others.

Adapted from the eulogy of her son, Tim Rogers.

Ruth Elaine Griffiths (Austin) 1 July 1932 – 10 November 2016 Clyde 1943-47

June had enjoyed her house for eighteen months before Sam decided it was too comfortable and they should move again, this time to New England. Sam’s best friend from school Norman Griffith had shown him a place near Armidale during the summer of 1963, when the clover was lush and he was fascinated by the summer green. That was hard for June but she knew her happiness was with Sam so they went to Sunnyside in 1964 and it never rained again!

A sixth generation Australian, Ruth was born on 1 July 1932, youngest of four daughters to Ernest Austin and wife Ellen Austin of Yallambee, a sheep station in Beaufort near Skipton, Victoria. Ruth and her three older sisters Dawn Shands (Austin), Joan Plaistowe (Austin) and Mary Annette Fairbairn (Austin) were raised at Yallambee. Ruth talked of a happy childhood, climbing fruit trees, playing tennis with local families (up to 100 miles away), loving her dog Sootie, riding bareback on her horse Sovereign, helping her mother in the garden and swim-

Having had some experience of a wetter climate east of Armidale Sam decided a move east would be good, and besides, he said, June was getting too comfortable at Sunnyside. They sold Sunnyside, and 33

toric Welsh hall or long house dating from the 17th century, but renovated and semi-detached by the 1950s. Idyllically located in the South Gower countryside, in the lea of Cefn Bryn, overlooking Oxwich Bay and the Bristol Channel the house had formal lawns overlooking the bay, with gardens, orchard, greenhouse, summerhouse and a large paddock. The coastline offered endless stretches of sand and beautiful deserted beaches. The Griffiths raised their two daughters Julia and Rhian at Nicholaston.

ming in the pool with frogs.

Earlier generations of the Austin family were responsible for bringing rabbits to Australia for recreational hunting, causing significant problems for farmers and their crops, including the Austins. Ruth earned pocket money as a child by taking her horse and dogs out into the paddocks, rounding up the rabbits, using nets to catch them and then taking on the job of skinning them. She was taught to be practical and how to tackle bush fires. In later years she passed on this knowledge to her children, telling them that in the event of a fire, they should throw a mattress out the window first to ensure a soft landing and to keep a hose pipe in the roof guttering with tennis balls plugging the end so that water would flow over the home if there was a fire.

Ruth was a strong and capable person who worked hard, transforming the property from brambles, cultivating a large ornamental, vegetable and kitchen garden. She grew everything including asparagus, potatoes, gooseberries, artichokes, carrots, pumpkins, corn; in the greenhouse she had tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, grapes and peppers. The family was quite self-sufficient and rarely needed to visit the supermarket. Ruth raised lambs and donkeys, and even in winter would ski over heavy snow to get eggs and milk from Knelston and Penrice. She was positive and optimistic, every day collecting firewood from nearby Nicholaston Woods to feed the 70 year old Aga which was the sole source of heat and hot water for the house. She did the wood splitting and sawing herself, using a sledge hammer and manual saw rather than accept an electric saw. Tudor called her ‘Mighty Mouse’ because she would collect driftwood from the beach and carry it home strapped to her back with ropes.

Ruth was educated at Yallambee by her mother during primary years, before going to board at Clyde in 1943. There she excelled at music and painting, and played in the senior Baseball IX team before leaving in 1947. Ruth then travelled to England with her parents to spend a year at St James College, a secretarial and finishing school in Kensington. She had elocution lessons to smooth out her Australian accent, and then returned to Australia. Several years later when Ernest Austin stopped farming, the family moved from Yallambee to the coast, a beautiful home named Kenton in Ocean Grove.

Ruth rented a flat in Melbourne and worked in a record store because she loved classical music. As a keen royalist she later worked at Government House in Tasmania and always said she was fortunate to have served and dined with the Queen. She was also employed as a seasonal ski instructor in the Snowy Mountains in Australia.

Her children’s happy memories include Ruth singing Aussie songs like ‘Kookaburra Sits In The Old Gum Tree’, her barbecues on the beach, catching prawns, mackerel, crabs and lobsters, then building a bonfire to see up the cliffs when it got dark. They learnt to canoe, windsurf, sail and play tennis. After school the children came home to Ruth’s cakes, sandwiches and homemade Anzac biscuits or ice-cream in the summer. She was an excellent cook and they enjoyed wonderful birthday cakes and parties at home.

In later years, Ruth continued to help her daughters, once posting Rhian’s laundered underwear through her letterbox in Swansea with a wooden spoon!

When she visited her sister Joan in England, she found a job at the Tate Gallery and enjoyed days off at the Royal Horticultural Society in London. She shared a flat with Ann Aeron Thomas who became a lifelong friend. Ann introduced Ruth to Captain Tudor Morgan Griffiths (F Troop, 1st Airlanding Light Regiment) who was mentioned in dispatches for his brave actions in WW2. He was captured in September 1944 and led an escape during fighting on the Rhine bank west of Arnhem. He had spent two years in hospital recovering after the war. After their engagement, Ruth returned to Australia and they were separated for six months.

Tudor nicknamed Nicholaston ‘Australia House’ as there were so many visitors from Australia. Ruth was only sad when her family waved goodbye at Swansea railway station. Ruth lived at Nicholaston Hall until 2012 when she was widowed and in her 80s before she decided it was too much upkeep. In 2013 she retired to Newton Chert where she felt safe and secure.

Tudor and Ruth were married in Australia in December 1962 and were “happily married, totally inseparable and devoted to each other during all their 48 years together”. After their honeymoon and telling Tudor she wanted ‘a little old wiggly house’, he bought Nicholaston Hall in Penmaen, Wales, a his-

She adored all her grandchildren, spending time with them in her garden and teaching them how to bake.

They all recall her as warm, generous, amusing and thoughtful. She lived for her husband, girls and 34

grandchildren and will be remembered for her positive outlook, strength, capability, innocence, sweet nature, love and kindness.

ficers of the British Army in India were settled there with 1000 acres each and a shareholding in the cooperative company which was formed. Nin’s father later purchased back thousands of acres as some of the settlers moved away having experienced difficulties with farming on their blocks. Under management of the Smyths, Kongbool was described in 1936 as “a model grazing farm where fine-woolled merino sheep and superior cattle and horses are bred”. The homestead displayed a collection of valuable art treasures, watercolours and oils by famous artists, and an eclectic range of mementoes and artefacts typical of the era, stuffed-head tiger and lion skin rugs and an elephant’s foot from Sir Nevill’s big game shooting during his military service in Africa.

Adapted from the eulogy by her daughter Julia Griffiths-Johnson, the internet and Trove NLA.

Mostly raised by their mother who was energetic and hardworking, Nin and her brothers enjoyed country life on their sheep station. The property featured “lovely red gum country, spread park-like over rolling hills”. A governess was employed to handle their early education. She tried to keep the children under control, but they had pet dogs and air rifles to go hunting rabbits and foxes, and an overseer to take them fishing, beekeeping to extract honey or chasing kangaroos. When the local State primary school was opened, with only 12 pupils, the children rode their Shetland ponies to school three miles away every morning, often with bare feet in the stirrups. Nin became an accomplished horsewoman and carried this through to her later life. Sir Nevill had been a cavalry man, so everything was done with horses. Ploughing, stockwork, playing polo. He and Lady Smyth always dressed in well-worn casual clothes as they worked around the farm. There was a private golf links on Kongbool and the family would go on picnics to the Grampians. When King George V died, and during early wartime broadcasts, the whole Smyth family sat in their new motor car to listen to its radio as they had no radio in the house. The children grew up with a strong sense of patriotic duty towards “the British Army and Empire, and King and Country” and to Australia. Hardiman family members recall standing to attention in front of the TV in the 1960s when the ABC finished for the night with “God Save the Queen”.

Austin family plaques in the Christ Church, Skipton Olwen Annarella Hardiman (Smyth) 15 September 1921 – 14 August 2018 Clyde 1934-38 Annarella, known as Nin, was the only daughter and middle child of Major-General Sir Nevill Maskelyne Smyth VC KCB (1868-1941, b Westminster UK, son of Sir Warington Wilkinson Smyth d1890) and Lady Smyth (Evelyn Olwen Williams 1884-1960, daughter of Sir Osmond Williams, of Deudraeth Castle, Merioneth, Wales). Nin had an older brother Osmond Smyth (d1952) and a younger brother Dacre Smyth AO (1923-2008). Nin’s father Sir Nevill Smyth retired from military service after WW1, highly decorated by the British, French and Belgian governments. He met and married Evelyn in 1919 and their three children were born in England before they relocated to Australia.

The Smyths were generous and active contributors to their rural community. In 1926 Lady Smyth helped to establish the local Balmoral Bush Nursing Centre. Sir Nevill Smyth consistently supported public bodies and initiatives to benefit the district.

He dressed in uniform and wore his Victoria Cross medal for Anzac Day parades or to open district war memorials. As the nearest State high school was 40 miles away in Hamilton, the Smyth children were sent to boarding school for secondary education. Os-

The Smyth family moved to Kongbool, Balmoral, near Hamilton in 1925, a historic Western District grazing property with a substantial 1905 homestead and an original 1840s homestead still intact. Previously 25,000 acres, Kongbool had been subdivided in 1923 for 21 soldier settlement blocks. Former of35

mond and Dacre attended Geelong Grammar, and Nin was sent to Clyde from 1934-38. Entering in third term 1934 her valete shows: Library Committee 1936; Form Captain Vb, Dux Vb, prizes for scripture, reading, first aid and essay 1937; Form Captain VaS 1938. Also in 1938, she was credited with laying the first log of the newly built log cabin, having been one of the strongest workers to get trees cut and debarked in preparation for the foundations.

She left school at the end of second term 1938, and those left behind to complete the log cabin really missed her capable assistance. (The Cluthan 1938, p10).

al Air Force officer in the UK. She had met Robert during a posting to RAF Station Hawarden. He had returned from a long period in the Middle East flying aerial photo reconnaissance, and was then Chief Flying Instructor at the station. After five months they became engaged.

Many newspapers announced Nin’s marriage in London on 15 January 1944: “WAAF Section Officer Annarella Smyth was married at Holy Trinity Church, Brompton, London to Squadron Leader Robert James Hardiman DFC of the Royal Air Force (RAF) Exeter. The bride wore gold brocade and a tulle veil, surmounted by a wreath of orange blossom.” The Hardimans did not return to Australia until 1947 when there was an emotional Smyth family reunion. They were welcomed to Melbourne by many friends, including Mrs Charles Armytage who hosted a dinner for them at the Victoria Hotel on 18 July 1947. Nin’s brother Osmond died in 1952 while he was in South Korea working in the diplomatic service, and in 1953 the Smyth family donated the GGS Timbertop Prize in his honour.

In January 1939, Nin and her brother Osmond sailed to England, after a farewell party was held for them by neighbouring friends the Seymours, at their property Yat Nat in Balmoral. Nin was not to see her father again. Sir Nevill was keen for her to learn French as he had commanded Australians in Gallipoli and France. Nin initially attended finishing school in France, and dutifully wrote letters to her father in French.

He replied by sending her letters back – with the French corrected! At the advent of WW2 Nin managed to catch the last ferry back to England. She met many relatives who provided safe haven, then assisted the war effort by joining the British WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) to become a Section Officer, commanding others with her bright and positive demeanour at various bases. Her brother Osmond joined the Welsh Guards because of his mother’s Welsh upbringing, after winning the AA Whittingham scholarship at GGS which entitled him to three years at Cambridge. Later her brother Dacre joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1940, so that all three siblings were serving in the war.

Nin and Robert, now Wing Commander, settled at their property Pen-ga-rook in Gisborne near Mt Macedon, and raised three daughters Christine Juliet Hardiman, born 24 Oct 1953, Prudence Kate Olwen Van Der Linde (Hardiman) born 13 Sep 1956, and (Elizabeth) Annarella Hardiman born 13 Feb 1958, who all attended Clyde as day girls between 1965-75. Sharing her knowledge of horsemanship, Nin taught her daughters to ride, train and care for their horses at Pen-ga-rook, attending pony club and equestrian events. Robert would comment that each horse “ate as much as seven sheep”.

Nin managed the farm when Robert was away flying commercially for Ansett ANA. The district shearers appreciated her generous cooking during shearing time. She was a generous supporter of the rural community in Gisborne, maintaining family, district and community friendships, caring for older or isolated neighbours, or hosting memorable dinners and tennis parties. She became a Guide Commissioner (a “Brown Owl”), she worked for the Red Cross, the local Historical Society, the church guild, and she loved studying antiques. She became the Smyth family historian, keenly researching archives and memorabilia.

Sir Nevill Smyth died at Kongbool in July 1941, while Nin and her brothers were away serving overseas. Their father’s funeral was carried out with full military honours and he was laid to rest in Balmoral cemetery. Lady Smyth continued to live at Balmoral, hoping that Nin or her brothers would return and take over the property, but after 1945 it was sold and Lady Smyth retired to Portland where she died in 1960, with Nin by her side, caring for her in her last weeks. Osmond joined the diplomatic service, Dacre continued a distinguished naval career, and Nin married Robert Hardiman (b1917), a Roy-

The Hardimans enjoyed annual beach holidays at Portland in Lady Smyth’s previous home and Nin kept up her Western District friendships, especially with her famous wine and cheese parties in the 1960s and 70s. Nin and Robert designed and built a lovely house Marazion, Kemp Road, New Gisborne where they lived until they moved into Macedon for retirement, closer to supports and facilities, and 36

maintaining strong community bonds. At this time, Nin enjoyed the delight and pleasure of being a grandmother to her beloved Katrina and Harrie. Nin was an active and popular lifelong member of the Clyde Old Girls’ Association, attending events, meetings and contributing to the annual jumble sale.

She was loved for her friendly, cheerful personality and kindness to all.

Baseball and Junior Athletics teams and was the Junior Swimming Representative and the Prep Running Champion. She won the Junior Lady Robinson Reading Prize, the Middle School General Knowledge Prize and the Oakley Rhodes Prize. In 1956 she performed in The Pirates of Penzance and in the Clutha Entertainment play ‘The Finger of Fate’.

Pam had a distinguished career at the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) from 1965 to 1969 and from 1984 to 1991, with five years overseas, children and a Defence restriction on part-time work interrupting her tenure. The Defence Signals Bureau (or Directorate) was located at Albert Park Barracks from 1947-1979 when it relocated to a new facility in the historic Victoria Barracks. Its role was to exploit foreign communications and be responsible for communications security in the armed services and government departments.

Nin outlived Robert and lived independently at her home until she was 94, supported by family, carers and the wonderful Macedon Ranges local community. Her final years at Highgrove in Kew were also characterised by her legacy of positivity, appreciation and cheer. She died on 14 August 2018, aged 96. She was described in a family tribute as “a wonderful, caring, loving person who gave so much to everyone she knew.” She personified the Christian, humanitarian and universal values of generosity, goodwill and kindness.

Pam came to the Defence department straight from a university Arts degree in English language and literature and was an early part of the graduate intake.

She remembered the barracks in Albert Park fondly including the heat policy (sent home at 100 degrees Fahrenheit) and less fondly, the dense tobacco smoke in the huts.

Sources include: the Cluthan 1937-38, GGS records, Light Blue, Tom Maddicks, Trove NLA (The Argus, The Age, The Australasian), Wikipedia, Australian War Archives and recollections from Annarella Hardiman.

Pamela Mary Kentish Sinclair (Clyne) 19 October 1942 – 24 July 2018 Clyde 1953-56

She headed a small team reporting on a small Asian country. In her second term she became the team leader in CAZ. She made friends with many colleagues, including those considerably younger than herself. Instead of confidential work information, she gave her husband Roger vivid daily accounts of people and personalities. She worked long hours as well as weekends. In 1990 her efforts were recognised with the DSD merit award. Signed by the then director Tim James, the award read “Pamela Sinclair. In recognition of her outstanding contribution in an area of work of the highest national importance during a sustained period of crisis. As the team leader, her energy, dedication and professionalism under extreme pressure went well beyond expectations and were an example to all.”

Pam was born in October 1942 in Poona, India where her father, an Australian doctor, was an officer in the British Army Medical Corps towards the end of the British Raj. As a result of her father’s career, Pam spent the first eighteen years of her life abroad.

She came to Australia from India shortly after the end of WW2 when all service personnel were granted home leave. In 1947 the Clyne family moved to London.

Later they moved again to Malaya, Singapore, Germany and Cyprus before Pam’s father was appointed to the Australian Army in 1960.

At DSD Pam felt privileged and excited to see the front line of world affairs. She could not follow the organisation to Canberra but her time with DSD always remained the occupational love of her life. She attended many local DSD lunches and reunions in Canberra. She was a very enthusiastic and conscientious colleague, always ready to help others. She became a great mentor to those who joined the DSD Research Officer program. She had a great sense of humour and was a skilled raconteur. During the demanding years of her defence work, Roger was a tremendous source of support particularly when their children were young, thus allowing Pam to enjoy her career.

From 1953-56 Pam and her older sister Patricia Dorward (Clyne) travelled from Singapore to board at Clyde, flying home each Christmas for the summer holidays. The Clyne sisters were joined by fellow students Marcia Achenbach (Fee), Judy Fee, Henny Zimmerman (Lindeboom) and Bronwen Haigh (Lewis) in this annual exodus from Woodend to Singapore.

At Clyde Pam was the Dux of IVA, VC, and VB. She was on the Junior Library and Junior Debating Committees, played in the Junior Hockey, Junior 37

Pam was an enthusiastic supporter of COGA, serving on the committee for several years and regularly attending functions. While on the committee she was responsible for writing an excellent summary of the history of Clyde for Clyde House, GGS.

After leaving school, Athol’s family connections and pedigree fuelled her agile and enquiring mind. It seemed natural that she would develop a ‘zealous’ interest in Australian politics and world affairs, investing her time and energy in pursuit of these interests. She believed that the Liberal Party provided the best long-term solutions for Australia’s future. Passionately involved in politics, she established Liberal Party branches in Surry Hills (Sydney) and the rural district of Deniliquin NSW, eventually contributing to the election of Sussan Ley as the Liberal member for Farrer in 2001. “If she wanted to do something, she just did it” remarked one of her close friends.

Edited to include information from Cluthans and adapted from the resume of Pam’s career provided by her husband, Professor Roger Sinclair and given to us by Dizzy Carlyon (Clapham).

Athol Parker Clapham (Adams) 21 July 1930 – 19 February 2018 Clyde 1940-47 Athol was the second daughter of three children (a fourth died in infancy) born to Arthur Parker Adams (1889-1955) and Nancy Alison nee Maslin (18921932), both of pioneer stock – the Parkers as successful shipowners (Huddart Parker shipping line), the Adams and Maslins as pastoralists with holdings in South Australia, Victoria and the NSW Riverina.

Arthur Parker Adams was one of four sons; his three brothers predeceased him, two of them on courageous active military service. Athol and her brother Harold were named after two of their uncles who were killed in WW1 in 1917. (The family’s tragic loss is well documented in war archives.) Athol’s older sister was Lady Alison Marion Parker Hay (Adams 1920-2002), wife of Australian diplomat and colonial administrator, Sir David Osborne Hay CBE DSO. Her brother was naval Captain Harold John Parker Adams AM (1932-2007) who in 1992 commanded the RAN destroyer ship HMAS Hobart when it was judged the most efficient unit in the RAN. Lady Alison Hay had launched the ship in Michigan in 1964.

Athol was married to Basil Murray Clapham (19101976) at Melbourne Grammar Chapel on 12 July 1954. She wore a ‘frock of lustrous magnolia satin with a veil held by a chaplet of orange blossom’.

She was attended by Helen Handbury (Murdoch) wearing an orchid pink velvet frock. Athol and Basil were married for over ten years, they had two sons together, George and Harold Clapham, and Basil had four children from a previous marriage, Jackie, Murray, Ann ‘Dizzy’ Carlyon (Clapham) and Patricia Simson (Clapham). They lived on a property with a beautiful homestead, garden and tennis court, Murray Plains at Conargo between Deniliquin and Jerilderie in the Riverina region of NSW. The combined six children became very close as sisters and brothers. When the marriage ended, it did not seem acrimonious and the children appreciated their parents’ combined love and contribution to their lives.

The Adams children were raised at the family’s pastoral property Gilgai at Nagambie, between Seymour and Murchison, Victoria. Athol and Harold never really knew their mother as she died in 1932 when they were both very young. After leaving Clyde in 1938 sister Alison helped her father run the farm while Athol went away to board at Clyde in 1940, and Harold was sent to naval college at HMAS Cerberus on Westernport Bay, rather than to secondary school. He rose through the ranks from midshipman to commanding officer, seeing active service in Korea and embarking on a stellar navy career. He and Athol remained close until he died in 2007. (The names Athol and Harold continue to be carried by family members of subsequent generations.)

Athol was fiercely independent and moved from Melbourne to Sydney in the late 1960s to raise the boys on her own. She was not daunted by starting anew, she made many friends and re-established herself. She rented a cottage in Double Bay, worked at David Jones, collected lovely fabrics and had new clothes made. She started a successful property business with Mavis Driver, buying and renovating rundown terrace houses in Paddington. The first house she renovated and resold was 43 Holdsworth Street, Woollahra, then she bought and renovated another one two doors up, painted it olive green and moved in with the two boys. Family members say she had good taste and excellent style, emphasised good manners, proper etiquette and good elocution. She told her sons and their rugby friends from Cranbrook and Sydney Uni teams that speaking properly was important, and they appreciated her life lessons.

Sisters Alison and Athol both boarded at Clyde where “the formalities of dress and decorum were firmly implanted”. Athol loved sport, particularly tennis and golf, and in 1947 she won the trophy for Best All Round Sport at Clyde.

Art, literature, music and history were staple elements of Athol’s life, appreciation and enjoyment of these aesthetics was an enduring legacy she gave to all her family and friends. Her library was extensive, she was still buying books when she could no longer 38

read. She admired writers, artists and composers who enriched the world. Son George said she preferred the companionship of men. Being selective and a good judge of character, the men she liked were “interesting, amusing and intellectually capable, they were politicians, doctors, cricketers, journalists, ambassadors, chefs, authors, navy captains, artists, architects or a Knight of Wine Tasting”.

Athol loved to entertain, and to cook in her traditional country style. Dinner parties often included a game of charades, or dress-up themes.

streak, and began a lifelong affair with the SLR camera.

Her first love however was children. After graduating in mothercraft nursing, she worked for several years in early childhood, continuing to work with newborns after marrying Bryan Seng Hpa while raising and cherishing three of her own: Lucy, James and Sophie. All three children benefitted from her down to earth, unconventional and creative approach to child rearing. For a city home, Sally also managed to create a farmyard in their back garden: a menagerie of cats, dogs and ever multiplying guinea pigs.

As the children grew up, so too did their friends, who also came to know and love Sally as a second mother.

Athol travelled extensively, often on her own, and kept a diary. She visited Crete, France, the Middle East, Russia, Northern Ireland, the Far East, or her stepson Murray in Indonesia. She placed flowers on the graves of Jane Austen and Pushkin. She was never afraid to do things her way, in fact she reminded her son of Flaubert’s character Emma Bovary, a woman who wanted to escape the confines of society and live life on her own terms.

As emphysema began to take hold however, Sally’s life became more and more difficult. Moving into aged care at such an early age would have shattered most. Only in her mid-fifties, Sally somehow managed to find a bright side, meeting the other residents with an open heart, sitting up late with them at night, and revelling in their stories. Even at her weakest physically, her love of people and her sense of humour never failed her.

Her nephew David Hay wrote “Athol was such an iconic figure in all our lives that it’s hard to imagine being without her. I will not forget her devilish sense of humour, her utterly idiosyncratic and emotionally heartfelt views, nor her inimitable sense of style. Of course she and I had a few rows – but that was very much part of her passionate grip on life”. Athol had a powerful intellect and strong sense of loyalty to her family, her forbears, to people who served their country in the war, to the Australian flag, the constitutional monarchy (our Queen) and the Liberal Party. She had a multifaceted life, loved a drink, a smoke and a good yarn, and always carried herself with elegance, style and grace. She was “enigmatic and paradoxical”. There were many loyal friends who supported her in later years. Truly unforgettable really.

Sally Donaldson was a unique, loyal and generous friend, always ready to listen, chat and have a laugh.

She was also a much loved and devoted mother, daughter and sister. For those fortunate enough to have known and loved her, she is and will always remain sadly missed.

Adapted from the eulogy of her friend Sandra Fairthorne.

Sourced from eulogies provided by her sons George and Harold, Australian Obituaries (Parker, Adams, Hay family members), internet and war archives and her step-daughter Dizzy Carlyon (Clapham).

Sally Seng Hpa (Donaldson) 15 June 1959 – 30 December 2017 Clyde 1974-76 Sally went to Clyde in 3rd form, in 1974. A fifteen year old country girl from a farming family, she became renowned for her natural flair for sport, her sense of the ridiculous, and a wild streak which clashed at times with authority. In short, Sally was lovable larrikin.

Top: Jane Poulier, Second row: Fiona Cookson, Janette Starbuck, Sally Donaldson, Third row: Anna McGregor, Deborah Richardson, Bottom: Catherine Richardson, Katrina Moore.

After leaving school in 1976 she travelled extensively throughout Europe, both on her own and with friends, before landing a job for a photographic studio in Melbourne. It was here she honed her artistic 39

Dorothy Read (Temperley) 29 October 1915 – 31 January 2018 Clyde 1929-33 There was an article about Dorothy in The Cluthan 2017 (p17), telling the story of her life and memories of Clyde, with excellent photographs provided by her daughter Catherine Kinley. Dorothy loved reading The Cluthan and GGS Light Blue until she was aged 102, recalling her friends at Clyde with much enjoyment throughout her life.

Catherine Kinley wrote to let us know of the death of her mother, Dorothy Read (Temperley): She was 102 and had not been well since a bad fall early in 2016. She spent her last two years living with me and died peacefully on 31 January 2018, the night of the great moon. In her 100th year she enjoyed the lovely birthday goodies from Fortnum’s sent by COGA, she was also very pleased to see the pieces about her in the various school magazines. My mother remembered her school days with great happiness and on bringing her books over to my house I have re-discovered the many prizes she was awarded at Clyde – beautiful books although in some cases the bindings are looking a little worn of course. I plan to keep these and wonder if in due course Geelong might like them for their archives. I wonder if there is anything I could contribute to Clyde House to keep my mother’s name going. In this connection, bear in mind that her great loves were drama and music. She also loved trees, so if there is any planting to be done perhaps a tree in her memory might be possible? You might be interested to hear that at her funeral in London, at All Saints, Fulham, where I was christened, my godfather’s son read a letter from his late father, written home from in Alexandria in 1942. My godfather had also been my father’s best man and he described the wedding and mentioned that their old friend Charles Fisher had been there – he, of course, went on to be headmaster

of Geelong – another connection. The organ voluntary at the end of the service was Waltzing Matilda arranged by the director of music to sound like something more solemn at first – it won great approval from the Australians (and non-Australians) in the congregation!

With great sadness we record the death on 10 August 2018 of Hilary Mary Blakiston (Heath) who attended Clyde 1942-44.

Hilary was the sister of Dallas Kinnear (Heath) and mother of Debby West, Sue Piper and Caroline Adams (Blakiston) who all attended Clyde.

Hilary was a loyal and supportive member of COGA over a lifetime, serving as COGA President 1971-73.

There will be an obituary for Hilary in The Cluthan 2019.

Thank you to those who have provided information about family and friends this year. It is greatly appreciated and some remarkable life stories have emerged. We are very grateful when COGs get in touch with us regarding Old Girls.

Note: Obituaries are written depending on the information available, please consider providing photos and information for this purpose if a Clyde family member or friend passes away. Obituaries do not necessarily have to be published in the year of death if time or circumstances do not permit; we are very grateful to receive information and assistance at any time.

Email: coganews@gmail.com or write to the editor, Julia Ponder 15/89A Bay Terrace, Wynnum 4178.

40