Staff Farewells

Our deep appreciation goes to all leaving members of staff. The following leaving staff are recognised for their service to PLC of 20 years or more. Many of their current and past colleagues have taken the time to contribute to the following articles. We recognise the lasting contribution these long-serving staff have made to the students and the wider community of PLC.

Farewell to Mrs Julie Bateman

From videos to video streaming

Over the past 29.5 years, Julie Bateman has enthusiastically welcomed change and ensured that PLC has always been at the forefront of developments in video technologies and platforms. This has ensured the best for generations of PLC students and now, with her impending retirement, we thank her.

Genevieve Lynch Head of Library Services

What is the most significant change you have seen at PLC? A new Senior Library has been exciting and interesting, allowing us to expand services and our use of new technologies. What year did you commence at PLC? What was your role? I started at PLC in 1992 as Audio-Visual Coordinator, which included providing video services to classrooms through a home-grown analogue video distribution system. This included TVs on trolleys which teachers would wheel from the corridor into the classroom. There were boxes on the wall and the teacher would plug in the TV and pick up a handset to ring AV. We would then ‘stream’ the video which would play on a video cassette player in the AV department. We had to make sure that we had the right player connected to the right classroom. This system was created by Alan Raymant, who was a Senior Audio-Visual Technician until he retired in 2019.

When did computers arrive and what impact did they have on AV? Apple Mac desktop computers arrived in the late 1990s; six were placed in the staffroom for emailing and word processing. When laptops arrived and teachers started using them in the classrooms, data projectors had to be installed and the existing video distribution system was connected to projectors. TVs on trolleys were phased out slowly.

Staff Farewells

What will you miss at PLC? The people – I’ll miss the students and staff and working in a great team in Library Services. There is collegiality and the sharing of ideas and information to build better resources. I will miss keeping up with the changes in technology – coming down to user level and moving forward with it is exciting. I would not have had this experience if not for PLC.

Mrs Heather Carson

Heather is helpful, generous, tireless, patient and resilient, loyal and caring, calm in a crisis, friendly, up for a chat and laugh, a positive thinker who finds humour in a challenge, adaptable and selfless.

Heather possesses diverse skills, including: endless washing of glassware containing smelly, messy remains of experiments; chopping, measuring and counting hundreds of beetroot and potato shapes; expertly dissecting male and female rats to show their reproductive systems; and creating eye-catching corridor displays and resolving AV/IT emergencies.

A mistress of organisation, Heather neatly arranged materials for practical work on benches before lessons and communicated pack-up instructions. On call during lessons, she was a willing gopher, fetching extra things as students requested.

For years, Heather prepared mountains of equipment to take on Biology field trips to the Otways. Microscopes, binoculars, reference books and environmental testing tools were neatly packed in boxes, colour-coded to allow easy identification and access from buses in different locations in any weather. Heather created dormitory and duty lists and could tell you who was doing what at any time. She was the Biology Department’s PA. She knew what teachers would be doing before they had thought of it themselves! What happened to video? When I started at PLC, there was a shelving unit with disorganised catalogue cards of videos. The Head of Library then brought in a computerised Library Management System, making it possible to catalogue the video collection digitally. We also brought in a schedule to record and catalogue programs for teacher use. We were at the forefront in offering this service in a school environment. Then there was the introduction of video resource sharing between schools through our membership of the Audio-Visual Association of Independent Schools, an organisation which continues today.

A trained teacher, Heather volunteered to supervise camps, relieve classes in any subject and taught Year 9 Personal Development. She was a valued group leader on Biology field trips. Heather spent hours patiently assisting students in IB and VCE with self-designed experiments, helping them operate data-loggers, manipulate equipment and trouble-shoot. Heather gave helpful advice to fellow lab technicians and often lent a hand in other areas of the Science Department. She had the responsibility of organising the Science teachers’ birthday morning tea roster, a duty she performed particularly well.

Heather began commuting from Chirnside Park in August, 1997 to work at PLC while running her household and supporting her family of four children. If you asked her what she did on her weekend she was likely to reply that she spent hours at hospital, waiting for one of her sons to get X-rays after an injury incurred during footy or cricket!

Although they’re not playing much sport now, her children have found success in careers and marriage and have blessed her with five beautiful grandchildren. She is an adoring grandma and will soon visit her interstate and UK families to cuddle the most recently arrived members.

We hope her trip to the UK and the dream of living in a house at Phillip Island are all achieved in the near future. She is a treasure and we will miss her!

Ms Takako Ikegami-Lee

We would like to farewell Mrs Takako Ikegami-Lee, well known as a wonderful, creative and dedicated Japanese teacher, who is retiring from her teaching career at the end of 2021.

Mrs Ikegami-Lee was appointed as a Japanese conversation tutor in 1998 before becoming a substitute class teacher for Japanese and EAL in 2010. Since then, she has taught Years 7 to 12, both IB and VCE. In 2017, she became a permanent teacher. She is equipped with very high academic language, research and IT skills and shares her expertise and professional knowledge with the Japanese Department. She continually displays a passion to teach and supports the students’ learning with experiences beyond the classroom.

Mrs Ikegami-Lee’s enormous dedication and commitment to the students have enabled them to achieve their best in their Japanese studies. She trained and supported them in the annual JLTAV Speech and Victoria State Speech Contests and produced wonderful results. She also worked closely with Japanese IB students completing their Extended Essay by giving clear direction and inspiration throughout the process. Her knowledge of Japanese language and culture and her solid understanding of the IB mission have been truly appreciated.

Mrs Ikegami-Lee has developed new VCE Units 1 – 4 curriculum courses since 2019. The current Year 12 Japanese cohort is very special to her as she has worked with most of the girls since Year 9 and made many wonderful memories through the 2018 Japan Tour and Japanese exchange program. All students have respected her integrity, professionalism and wisdom as well as appreciated how she supported them with compassion and empathy during the protracted homelearning experience.

Mrs Ikegami-Lee has always encouraged the girls to expand their horizons by providing a wide range of opportunities. Due to COVID-19, this year we were unable to run the Japan Tour or host students from Soshin Girls’ School in Yokohama, Japan. Not wanting the current cohort to miss out, Mrs Ikegami-Lee initiated an online exchange program between Year 10 PLC Japanese students and Soshin students. We have now been successfully corresponding with each other on a regular basis and maintaining a strong and positive relationship due to Mrs IkegamiLee’s efforts. Both student groups are grateful to have this opportunity to share culture and interests and practise the languages they study. We would like to continue this wonderful program in the future.

Now it is time to farewell Mrs Ikegami-Lee as she embarks on the next chapter of her life. She has a long to-do list, including writing books, travelling, gardening and spending time with her grandson. We thank her for everything she has given to PLC and wish her the very best in her retirement.

Ms Sue O’Brien

Sue O’Brien joined the staff of PLC in 2000 and worked for the first few years in a part-time capacity. She taught initially in a variety of subject areas: Science, Biology, Geography, IT and as part of the year 7 Learning Teams.

A member of her interview panel recalled recently how impressively Sue had presented. She was confident, professional and clearly highly motivated. Sue was the unanimous choice of the panel, and now, 21 years later, that choice has been strongly vindicated.

Numerous colleagues have described her as a teacher who is very well organised, passionate about science, enjoys her teaching, brings humour to the classroom and cares greatly for her students, whom she will often times refer to as her ‘possums’. Sue is also noted for her creativity in producing interesting and challenging student resources and her willingness to share these with others.

During her time at PLC, Sue has progressed through leadership opportunities from Acting Learning Teams Co-ordinator, to Acting Head of General Science to Head of General Science, until in 2009 she took up her current role of Head of Science.

A fellow member of the HACCS team has described Sue as the consummate professional. Her diligent preparation prior to any discussion makes her intelligent and thoughtful opinions always highly valued. She has also shown herself to be a great listener and respectful of the opinions of others.

As leader of the PLC Science Department, Sue has set the tone for achieving excellence in educational outcomes for all students at all levels. This has been characterised in her encouragement to staff and students alike to never miss an opportunity to learn something new and never stop looking for new things to learn.

Mrs Daphne Proietto

After 32 wonderful years of service to the Music Department at PLC, it is with mixed emotion that we farewell our beloved teacher, friend and colleague, Daphne Proietto, who will be retiring at the end of 2021.

Daphne’s commitment to nurturing her students’ love for music is second to none. Through her years in the PLC Music School, Daphne has taught, mentored and inspired generations of children who, if not for her persistence, problem-solving skills and empathy, would not have discovered their passion or ability for music. Daphne is a gracious and inspiring educator who epitomises the meaning of teaching to the needs of her students. She is patient, knowledgeable and understanding of children, always honouring their individual strengths and capabilities.

One family’s memory of Miss Daphne is her love of stickers. No lesson was ever complete without a sticker, which would be stuck onto the cover of the piano book, to the extent that some of the covers were completely wall-papered in stickers making it difficult to determine which book it was. This, in itself, is an apt analogy for Daphne’s way of seeing the world. She cares little for labels or titles, but rather sees beyond the ‘covers’ of people to what is within them – inspiring them to become the best that they can be. Daphne’s work with special needs students over many years saw her care and love of these children bring out the best in each one as they developed their talents and learned to play and appreciate music.

Hospitality and grace are at the heart of everything that Daphne does. She is always generous with her time, energy and ideas, and over the years her dedication to PLC has extended beyond music to involvement in many community events. She was often seen wearing a chef’s apron at the ELC Family Sausage Sizzle, making pasta and pizzas with the children and talking to families about nutrition. For many years, Daphne ran healthy food afternoons with the Year 3s in Junior School, cooking soup, pasta, sauces and a variety of fresh food to show the girls how to make and enjoy wonderful food. These lessons were always popular with staff and students alike.

Daphne has been much loved in our school, be it for her infectious love of the piano, her unwavering belief in each and every one of her students, or the sparkle in her eyes when she shares her students’ successes or discusses pedagogy with colleagues. Daphne has indeed enriched our lives and leaves behind a lasting legacy in the lives of many. The PLC College will miss her dearly and we wish her many blessings as she steps into a well-deserved retirement.

Ms Amanda Snell

Amanda Snell was a gifted and outstanding Head of Art at PLC for 35 years, from 1986 to 2021. During this time, she nurtured and inspired generations of art students in both IB and VCE studies. Many of her students have in fact gone on to pursue very successful and fulfilling careers as artists, designers, architects, jewellers or curators.

Amanda was a strong mentor and maintained close contact with her past students, often inviting them to return to PLC as recognised arts practitioners to encourage and support current students. Many of these Old Collegians came back to judge or open the always-spectacular exhibitions of student art works which transformed Wyselaskie Hall into vibrant, challenging arts spaces.

She worked closely with Old Collegians, assisting in promoting the work of Old Collegians across the ages in memorable projects based on the lives of pioneering past students such as Dame Nellie Melba, Ida Rentoul Outhwaite and Henry Handel Richardson and through significant exhibitions including Virago in View in Singapore, Refresh and Through Women’s Eyes. Many Old Collegians returning to the College for reunions are particularly nostalgic when they tour the art rooms which, though now renovated, still hold special memories of the happy and creative hours they spent as art students.

Amanda’s students were extremely fortunate to be exposed to the latest in contemporary art theory and practice across all media, to learn from artists in residence at the College, and to visit major exhibitions in Melbourne, the regions, interstate and even overseas, as part of her unique art and architecture tours. At TOK camps, Amanda collaborated with Anne Friend to provide original, stimulating and immersive art and music experiences for students.

Her energy, creativity and knowledge were highly appreciated by the many leading state and international professional and curricular bodies she was part of. She helped pioneer many arts education initiatives, including Top Arts, Victorian IB and Tasmanian IB Visual Arts exhibition and seminar day, IB teacher network and overseas exchanges, art workshops and camps with other schools, and was the recipient of the Wallace McCann Art Travelling Scholarship.

She was a much sought-after examiner and reviewer of VCE and IB Visual Arts curriculum.

Amanda’s legacy as a formidable art educator lives on through the hundreds of students she encouraged to think independently and to creatively explore their views in various media and her many colleagues who enjoyed her stimulating company and held her in the highest professional esteem.

Mr Ian Taylor

In his 21 years of teaching at PLC, Ian has taught almost every possible mathematics subject from Year 7 to Year 12 Specialist Maths and everything in between. For many years Ian was the lead teacher for Specialist Mathematics and the subject flourished under his leadership. He spent endless hours creating and writing teaching notes, assignments, tests, Application and Analysis tasks. Not surprisingly staff thoroughly enjoyed working under Ian’s leadership because he made the course interesting and engaging for staff and students.

Ian is a delight to work with. He is totally unflappable, so patient and generous with his time. No request is too much and no idea is too ill conceived. It is easy to collaborate with Ian. He is so humble and will always encourage others to share their ideas first. He gives problems careful thought, and is able to offer valued suggestions.

Ian is able to add a little bit of levity just when it is needed. He has the knack of finding the right balance between providing empathy and infusing that little bit of humour, which at times can be just the tonic required.

Outside of school, Ian loves to bike ride and travel and there are probably few destinations he has not yet explored. It is obvious that he has an adventurous spirit, a love of the outdoors and a natural curiosity because he has trekked in the Himalayas on multiple occasions, travelled across Tibet and joined the History Tour to Russia; and these are just a few of his adventures.

Ian is a passionate Melbourne Demons supporter and every Monday you would find him discussing the game with like-minded Melbourne supporters. No doubt Melbourne winning this year’s premiership was the nicest possible retirement gift.

Ian has a talent for making connections with the students and he is a much-loved teacher. Reflecting his humour they often gave him the strangest gifts like the super-sized calculator with giant buttons; clearly, they were worried about his eyesight.

Ian, thank you for your outstanding service to PLC. You have been a fabulous Mathematics teacher, loved by your students and colleagues and you will be greatly missed. We wish you nothing but happiness in the journey ahead. Put up your feet, relax, read a book, watch a movie in the knowledge that you have made an impact.

Special tribute to Mr Mark Hennessy

The following tribute to honour Mark Hennessy recognises, with my sincere apologies that the previous article did not adequately document Mark’s achievements, dedication and contribution to PLC.

Mrs Cheryl Penberthy, Principal

Mark Hennessy began his career at PLC in 2004 as the Junior School IT Coordinator. I clearly remember how excited Mrs Cora Farrall (then Head of Junior School) and I were after interviewing Mark. His passion for education, for students, and his innovative ideas on IT integration across the curriculum, were just what we were looking for. Mark’s expertise and energy proved to be invaluable in the transition to the new school building with its enhanced IT facilities. Mark guided and trained teachers in their classes, as the students engaged in IT learning adventures.

During Mark’s time in the Junior School, he was recognised for his significant contribution to PLC and education when in 2005–2006 he was awarded the Mathematics Association Award for his inspired and innovative leadership in ICT teaching, and in 2006 he was the Microsoft Innovative Educator of the year.

In 2009 Mark was appointed by Mrs Elaine Collin as the Senior School Staff eLearning Coordinator, a role he held for 11 years. This was a unique and important role for PLC as it focused on the IT professional learning of staff. Working with the Director of ICT, the Head of IT and the ICT Consultative Committee, Mark co-ordinated PLC’s IT professional learning program in step with the goals of the whole school, each department and individual teachers. In delivering these programs, Mark was very adaptive to staff needs and the constraints of the working day. He could be seen teaching in the classroom with his colleagues, running training sessions at department meetings (lunchtime and after school) and in one-to-one sessions with teachers. His colleagues valued these creative and insightful training sessions.

Mark combined this role with teaching IT Studies and the Year 9 Outlook program. Mark loved being in the classroom, as did his students! He was always full of enthusiasm, encouragement and words of praise for them.

In recent years Mark was responsible for the Year 9 Outlook City program. He constantly sought out new ideas and experiences for the girls, and his wide-ranging knowledge of Melbourne was a great asset.

As a Form Teacher he always invested time and energy in building community and creating a sense of belonging amongst the students in his form. There would be the weekly ‘Song of my Life’ presentations, quotes of the week, personalised birthday cards and end-of-year photo fridge magnets.

The staff enjoyed Mark’s time as our Social Secretary. His great ideas for end-of-year and special events and his mystery tours kept us all in good spirits especially during exams and report writing times.

I remember with fondness the occasion when Mark gave me the honour of launching his new primary school mathematics books. In my talk to a large gathering of teachers across many schools, I said, ‘You all know how creative, enthusiastic and generous Mark is –’, but I could not finish, as the crowd burst into generous applause. Well, that just about says it all!

Mark is a respected teacher and a much-loved colleague who has given so much to PLC and education. We now wish him well as he pursues his many interests in and out of education.

Peter Ross

Former PLC Director of Music (1987–2007), passed away on 22 August 2021.

A Sister’s Perspective

Peter was born in Melbourne, living in what was then, the paddocks of East Ivanhoe, until his early teens. His mother, June Ross (nee Mathers) had attended PLC as did I, his younger sister. Neither of us could have ever imagined he would make his mark on the Music Department of our school many years later.

We remember Peter running puppetry shows in the backyard, in which he would do all the characters, music, costumes and the set, and we simply had to watch. This probably explains how Peter in later life was able to run the Albury Scout Gang Shows for several years, write original musicals in his very first year of teaching at Prahran High and University High and, of course, to go on to be Music Director of PLC for 20 years with a staff of over 50 to boss around.

Peter was also a very sentimental bloke. When his pet hare died when he was a young boy, he wrote a letter to our grandfather who was a Presbyterian/Uniting Church Minister in Regent, asking if hares went to heaven. Our grandfather, of course, reassured him it was so. Our father dreamt of being a farmer, so when Peter was thirteen, the family left Melbourne to live on a 500-acre farm just out of Albury. Peter began to learn piano with Eileen Buckhorn which he loved, but he did not thrive at school, and at the end of Peter’s Matriculation year, he failed English. Peter started employment as a wool classer and then began classes in accounting.

Just before Peter turned 21, he announced to Mum and Dad that he had decided to quit his wool-classing job and move to Melbourne to study music at the Conservatorium. This took enormous courage as Peter had to also pass his English exam at night school before he was allowed entry. This was certainly a sign of things to come. Peter was starting to embrace his intellect, which would see him complete his Bachelor of Music at the Conservatorium, get a scholarship to study a Master of Arts at Columbia University in New York, and then later a Master of Arts Administration. This just goes to show that early failures do not have to guide your life and can be overcome.

Peter had a genuine love of people which enabled him to make strong and enduring connections throughout his life. Another strong trait of Peter’s was humour. He could reduce us to tears of laughter as he summed up some situation with a wicked sense of the absurdity of life. His trusted administrator at PLC, Jane Routledge, told us that on reflecting that they had worked together for 21 years, Peter had commented that ‘their working relationship had lasted longer than most marriages’.

Late in life, Peter faced his biggest challenge when, on retiring, he learnt that he had Parkinson’s disease. Before long, just getting showered and dressed was an enormous challenge. Like the character in the Monty Python film with no arms and legs yelling, ‘Come on! It’s only a flesh wound!’, Peter made the most of every day and continued to travel and explore life when most people would have given up and retired to nurse their wounds at home. Peter at this time also met his wonderful partner, Ali, and proved that the miracle of love can come to you at any age.

Sharon Brown (Ross 1974)

Nicky Smith

Former PLC Head of LOTE (1990 – 2014), passed away on 13 October 2021.

Nicky Smith worked at PLC for 24 years from 1990 until she retired in 2014 as Head of the LOTE Department. However, she will be best remembered as a much-loved teacher of French. ‘Nicky was a very special staff member, coming to us in the harvest that Sallie Norsworthy drew to PLC Junior School,’ said past principal, Mr William Mackay. ‘She was one of the treasures that came to us in 1990, joined by her husband, Rod, in 1991.’

Nicky’s teaching ability, and her adaptability, saw her move from being a French teacher in the Junior School to the Senior School in 1993, teaching from Year 7 to Year 12, including both VCE and IB, and then eventually becoming Head of LOTE.

Nicky’s focus was for her students to strive to achieve their best and she encouraged them all to continue studying French to the senior levels, whatever their ability. This was testament to her love of her subject, her students, her teaching ability, and her overall educational values. Her students loved her classes and also hearing her tales of French culture, her experiences of her worldwide travels with Rod and her children, her sense of fashion and of food – in fact, everything French. ‘Madame Smith was full of energy and her classes were always safe, positive and fun,’ said one past student. ‘She wasn’t a typical teacher,’ said another, ‘she was the one-in-a-million teacher who lit us up on the inside, passed on her passion to countless young people and made a mark in all our hearts.’ Nicky’s joie de vivre was evident in all aspects of her teaching. The biennial exchanges to France were a highlight for many girls; they were expertly organised, and often Madame Smith went on the trips herself. Many will also remember the LOTE French cookbook, full of delicious international recipes. Her coq au vin and crème caramel recipes were legendary.

Being Head of the LOTE Department required diplomacy skills approaching international levels, of which Nicky was a master. Her departmental meetings were efficient and productive, and she negotiated with staff (and principals) to ensure that languages remained core to the curriculum.

Nicky lit up the staffroom with her gracious spirit, and many who knew her will resonate with the following statements made by staff:

‘We laughed a lot, but when I was going through hard times she was always there, just to give me a caring look, a touch, a smile, and to listen.’

‘When we were teaching together, I used to love my conversations with Nicky. She was always so joyful. In the staffroom Nicky was always surrounded by people. There was also an endearing modesty about her – Nicky would have been surprised if someone had told her that we were drawn to her vivacity.’

‘She shone with a rare je ne sais quoi, which drew people to her.’

‘Nicky was a truly authentic human being, both vibrant and fun-loving. Her zest for life and learning were infectious and she always knew just how to encourage her students and her peers.’ Nicky threw herself into the many and varied aspects of school life; helping behind the scenes at the PLC 125th Pageant, shooing horses away from tents on Year 7 camp at Coonawarra, organising French poetry competitions, visiting China on exchange; always, her sense of fun prevailed. Nicky was also an intensely private person and the last few years have been particularly challenging for her and her family. Throughout this time, she always remained focused on the positive and on others, rather than herself. Nicky has touched so many people in her life and she will be greatly missed. We have been blessed to have had her as our friend, colleague and mentor.

Provided by her colleagues and friends

95 Years Filled with Music, Charity and Friendships. Aileen Noel Stooke

(1943) Passed away at the age of 95 on 5 September 2021.

PLC was saddened to hear of the passing of Old Collegian, Miss Aileen Stooke (1943), much-loved former music teacher and lifelong supporter of the College. The youngest daughter of Helen (dec.) and Stanley Stooke (dec.) and loving sister of Peg Lanyon (dec.) and Lorna English (dec.), auntie of Brian (dec.), Graeme (dec.), Helen, Kevin, Dale and Joy. Aileen began her PLC schooling in 1942. Enrolled by her mother, Helen Smith (1908), at the age of 15, Aileen boarded at PLC East Melbourne for two years, far away from her home town, Casterton, the small Western District Victorian township where her father ran the General Department Store. Aileen’s love of music, nurtured during her student years – as was her mother’s – flourished after school. A professional concert viola player in the 1940s and 50s, Aileen played and toured with many orchestras, including the Melbourne University Conservatorium Orchestra, the Borovansky Australian Ballet, the Princess Theatre Orchestra and Victorian Symphony Orchestra. Later, she worked at the PLC Junior School Music School as a music teacher (1967–1981). Aileen was the founding Director of the PLC Junior and Senior Orchestras, the Music Department at Tintern Grammar, Ringwood Secondary College and Knoxfield College (currently known as the Knox School). In 2000, Aileen conducted the PLC Old Collegians’ Orchestra which performed to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the College.

Throughout these busy years Aileen made time to build, with minimal professional assistance, four homes, including a rural retreat which she herself built manually, north of Dunkeld with stunning views of Mt Sturgeon. She volunteered with the International Red Cross, as a Red Cross Driver and Red Cross Door Knock Appeal Coordinator, for close to 50 years.

A petite lady with a huge heart and boundless capacity, Aileen successfully combined her love for people and her love of travel by nurturing an active interest in friends, cultural heritage, music and global culture. Over the last 30 years, Aileen’s service and interest in community continued in her roles as a foundation and committee member of the Ladies Probus Club Blackburn, former vice president of the PLC Friends of Music, former director of the PLC Foundation, PLC Old Collegian and a PLC Archive and Heritage Centre volunteer from 1991 to 2021. In her early nineties, on her most recent independent trip to England and Scotland, Aileen visited cherished landmarks and friends, including former PLC principal, Mr William Mackay (1986 – 1998) and his wife, Ena, in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Aileen’s interest in and service to others, as a trusted friend, wise mentor and clear thinker, enriched the lives of PLC principals, staff and students for 80 years. Her memoir, An Octagenarian Remembers, which she wrote ‘to portray her working life as a musician and a teacher and to portray some of the historical events she lived through’, was donated to the PLC Archive in 2011.

We will miss her twinkling eyes, hugs and cheeky smiles. In the words of several PLC Old Collegians:

‘We all have such happy memories of her and her dry sense of humour. It was enjoyable to spend time with her which I did each time I came to the Archive and OCA lunches. We will miss her.’ Val Reid (Sharkie 1954)

‘Aileen was a kindred spirit. No doubt there will be an orchestra up there to great Aileen as she enters the gates.’ Meredith Lyons (1968)

‘In the 1970s, Junior School Massed Orchestra was conducted by Miss Stooke. We could only perform in the concert if we could play our part by memory. Those who played their part perfectly got lollies from a lucky dip bag and could play in the concert. Those who made a mistake did not get lollies and were not allowed to play in the concert. On the day we had to play our parts in front of Miss Stooke and the girls, I got nervous and had a memory lapse so didn’t get lollies and could not play in the concert. I was devastated. I went on to get my A.Mus.A. and played a movement of a concerto with the Senior School Orchestra at Dallas Brookes Hall – from memory – but will never forget failing my first audition. It was a good lesson and she was very matter of fact about it. I remember Miss Stooke saying, ‘long bows, all the way to Ferntree Gully’. I didn’t know where Ferntree Gully was then, but ever since, whenever I see a sign to Ferntree Gully, I think of Miss Stooke and her ‘long bows’. Assoc. Prof. Samantha Richardson, PhD (1984).