From the Archives

Recent Accessions

Thank you to those who have recently donated items to our Archives.

JBarbara Finch (1950)

Barbara’s Kookaburras from 19421953 inclusive (minus 1943 and 1944, due to WWII paper shortage, and 1949, which wasn’t printed).

Alison Henshaw (Downie 1969)

A parcel of documents covering Alison’s time at PLC (1965-1969) including: the 1965 and 1969 Schedule of Fees; list of uniform requirements; Alison’s Needlework Process Book, Book 1; 1966 IGSSA Swimming and Speech Night programmes; programmes for Lady Precious Stream (1965), Tobias and the Angel (1966) and Toad of Toad Hall (1967).

Marlene Anderson – Archives donor

‘Nelson’s School Dictionary’, rescued from the bin at a charity book sale. The book was first owned by Janet Smith (Davis 1948), and subsequently by her daughters. In the back are signatures from girls and teachers including Mrs Myrtle ‘Pussyfoot’ Matthews (Languages teacher 1939-1950), Mrs Jean Miller (teacher 1944-1945), Dr Vera Summers (Principal 1934-1961), Mrs Dorothy Woodman (Kindergarten and Primary Teacher 1936-1965), Miss Marjorie Birks (Sub-Primary and Middle School teacher 1944-1947) and Miss Winnie Barclay (Science and Maths teacher 1942-1952).

Plaxy Linton – daughter of Eithne Bryant (Pope 1946)

Eithne’s Prefect’s pin, engraved with her name on the back.

Excellent version of ‘whole school’ photo taken in 1927 from Betty Trotter (Gibbs 1939), including Betty’s aunt, PLC Matron Bea Chubb.

OCA President Jessamy Mahony (Carroll 1988)

Jessamy’s speech in inducting Dr Helen Grzyb (Brine 1970), Katrina Burton (Fairweather 1982) and Shannon Lovelady (Martin 1983) as Honorary Life Members of the OCA at Founders’ Day, 2022.

Margaret Lefroy (Hammond 1970)

Papers relating to Margaret’s mother Margaret Hammond (Murdoch 1938) and her time at PLC (1936-1938) including: letter from Dr Vera Summers (Principal 1934-1961) wishing her well in her leaving exams; Margaret’s Physiology and Hygiene Leaving Certificate exam, 1938; and six photos from Margaret’s days at PLC (see pic).

Sylvia Brandenburg (Leeke 1951)

Sports skirt belonging to Sylvia’s daughter Shelley Mason (Brandenburg 1973).

Mike George – Open Garden Day volunteer (garden descriptions)

Open Garden Day programmes from 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2016. Note: We did not have original programmes for 1998 or 1999 so, thanks to Mike, we do now! Betty Trotter formerly Anderson (Gibbs 1939)

An excellent copy of the 1927 photo of the ‘whole school’ including Betty’s aunt Bertha ‘Bea’ Chubb (Matron 1924-1928), see pic.

WA Medical Museum, Subiaco

An album of items relating to Minnie Hodgson (1925) including: Minnie’s baptismal (1908) and confirmation (1929) certificates; Junior Certificate (1925); Certificate for Invalid Cookery (1930); Infant Welfare and Mothercraft Certificate (1932); reference from Dr Lindsay Male, Surgeon and Paediatrician, KEMH and the Children’s Hospital (1933); reference from Laura Scott, Matron of Greenbushes Hospital (1933); letter from Public Health re holding Minnie’s pay until they ascertained where she was, in the Eastern States (1935); Minnie’s British passport (1930s); telegram from her brother, Bill (1940); letter from Minnie to Norma Scanlon (nee Murdoch, a school friend from MLC) while she was at sea enroute to Singapore (late 1941); transcription of same letter with notes identifying people and places mentioned; a brief bio of Minnie including a summary of the Vyner Brooke and

Banka Island Massacre; letter from Anne Sage, Matron-in-Chief of the AANS, to Minnie’s father sympathising with him re Minnie’s likely fate (1944); letter from Maj Gen Callaghan to Minnie’s father sympathising with him re Minnie’s confirmed death (1946); letter from Returned Army Nurses’ Club to Minnie’s father on their decision to donate £1/1- (around $70 each, today) to the State War Memorial in honour of Minnie (1948); newspaper article from The Narrogin Observer, 10 May 1995, ‘Yealering family loses daughter in Banka Island massacre’; newspaper article from The POST Newspapers, 19 February 2022, ‘Chin up girls, I love you all’; newspaper article from Post Newspapers, 24 September 2022, ‘Minnie change for Beer Park’; and 57 photos of Minnie at PLC, MLC, on picnics down the river and in the bush with friends, in nurse training at the Children’s Hospital, nursing in the country, the family farm at Yealering, Minnie in Singapore in 1937, nursing in Singapore in late 1941/early 1942, and posed studio photos (1923-1941).

Digital Accessions

Jane Meneghello (McGibbon 1971)

Scan of Aurelie Yeo’s (Shearer 1951) A3 artwork done for the Rottnest Swim 2022; Order of Service for the funeral for Claire Merriam (2000).

Dr David Carlin – great grandson of John Stewart (see main article)

The opportunity to scan Margaret Stewart’s (1921) autograph book; the Stewart family photo album; Margaret Stewart’s personal diary from the family’s trip to England in 1926 and 1927, on the return of which her father died; 24 single photographs from the Stewart family archives; Stewart photo album from the family’s trip to NSW in 1922.

Connie Livermore and Helen Finch at the 1938 Inter-House Athletics Carnival. The 1938 Inter-House Athletics Carnival.

Back, L-R: Beryl Craze, Diana Lester, Jean Parker, Glenice Pascoe, Leslie John, Mary Livingstone, Sheila Rowsell, Barbara Roe

Front: Kay Lissiman, Helen Finch, Wendy Smith, M Allen

A rare interior shot of the Stewart family’s parlour, late 1920s, courtesy of David Carlin and the Stewart family.

We are saddened to hear of the passing of the following Old Collegians:

Meryl Gwynne Barham (Pritchard 1954) 10 December 1937 – 5 May 2022 Agnes Nancy Benaim (Reid 1945) 16 March 1928 – 12 May 2022 Jane Grettan Bennison (1965) 10 June 1948 – 17 August 2022 Marjorie Doris Blackman (Hubbard 1945) 8 November 1928 – 11 August 2022 Olwen Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Bull (Hay 1947) 14 June 1929 – 8 July 2021 Janice ‘Jan’ Codde (Sangster 1951) 8 May 1935 - 15 August 2022 Elizabeth May Connell (Caisley 1969) 2 June 1952 – 6 April 2014 Valerie Gwennyth Stern Croker (Snowden 1952) 23 October 1934 – 30 August 2022 Helen Carlisle Crosby formerly Illidge (Crosby 1955) 30 August 1938 – 14 October 2017 Barbara Helen Ellis (1941) 25 October 1924 – 30 August 2022 Dorothy Lindsay Gent (Isbister 1940) 2 December 1923 – 8 March 2022

Eileen Ada Giblett (1940) 29 June 1923 – 5 March 2019 Anne Elizabeth Green (Ross 1950) 23 March 1931 – 17 July 2022 Catherine Edith House (1993) 21 January 1976 – 23 April 2022 Wendy Tregellas Hotchkiss (Button 1947) 1 March 1930 – 26 October 2021

Shelley Maude Hutchison (Sutherland 1949) 16 August 1932 – 23 October 2022 Margaret Helen Johnson (Dare 1959) 10 November 1941 – 15 November 2022

Pauline Joan Kennedy (Harrison 1951) 12 April 1934 – 11 January 2019 Diana Mary Laurie (Bennett 1961) 7 July 1943 – 22 March 2022 Nora Vivian Le Fanu (Wheatley 1950) 13 December 1932 – 14 March 2022

Valerie Mavis Little formerly Aitken (Bulllmore 1943) 24 December 1926 – 14 November 2022

Jean Barrie Macdonald (Nairn 1952) 11 August 1935 – 23 August 2022 Clare Anne Merriam (2000) 21 August 1983 – 1 July 2022 Jenny Meryn Mills (Bunning 1951) 6 June 1934 – 21 April 2022 Shirley Helen Page (Dempster 1956) 17 February 1939 – 11 June 2022 Jillian Mary Paul (Monteath 1959) 5 January 1942 – 24 March 2022 Claire Frances Purse (1999) 22 May 1982 – 6 August 2022 Janet Mey Smith (Davis 1948) 3 January 1932 – 11 December 2013 Sheena Mary Stuart (Nicholson 1951) 15 October 1933 – 2 November 2022

Irene Eve Sunderland (2021) 10 July 2003 – 5 May 2022 Joan Annabel ThurnValsassina (Freecorn 1941) 20 November 1924 – 4 April 2022 Jennifer Frances Tunstill (Lowrie 1948) 22 December 1931 – 14 May 2022 Jennifer Louise Wainwright formerly Sims (Wainwright 1976) 22 January 1959 – 31 March 2022 Laurel Wells (1947) 11 February 1930 – 23 November 2022 Judith Eleanor Winslade (Robertson 1956) 10 December 1939 – 28 December 2021

Mignonne Wyatt (Smith 1945) 8 May 1928 – 2 May 2022 Mary Evelyn Yeates (Youngberg 1952) 21 Jun3 1935 – 14 July 2022 We are also deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the following former staff: Jane Elizabeth Frame Home Economics Teacher 2002-2011

Term 1 Community Tour Dates

Discover the PLC difference

and attend a Community Tour.

A tour of PLC allows you to view the facilities, meet the Principal and staff, see students enjoying their learning environment, and ask any questions you may have. To ensure you have the best possible experience on the tour, numbers are limited and bookings are essential.

For bookings, scan

Early Learning Centre and Junior School Community Tours Thursday 16 February 9.00 am – 10.45 am

Tuesday 28 March 9.00 am – 10.45 am

Thursday 23 February 9.00 am – 11.00 am

Tuesday 21 March 9.00 am – 11.00 am

Senior School Community Twilight Tour Wednesday 5 April 5.00 pm – 7.00 pm

PLC Launches New Holiday Programme

PLC Perth was delighted to launch its inaugural PLC Holiday Programme in September this year which saw 50 students from PLC and beyond from Pre-Primary to Year 7 take part. This initiative, led by IB Diploma CAS Co-ordinator, Mr Matt Donaldson, was offered over three halfdays and focussed on several sports including netball, dance, cricket, tennis, and basketball. Mr Donaldson’s decision to involve not only community partners such as Netball Australia, WA Cricket, Perth Scorchers, Aspire Tennis, and K2 Dance through their high-class coaching, but also the Year 11 International Baccalaureate students who were “big sister helpers” was an inspired one. It saw each participant have the opportunity to receive personalised coaching and personalised care throughout the day. PLC is pleased to offer the continuation of this highly successful programme in the upcoming January school holidays. The next programme will run Wednesday 18, Thursday 19, and Friday 20 January from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm at $50 per day. PLC is delighted to partner with some excellent sporting groups to deliver the programme including Fremantle Football Club and Perth Scorchers (with current players), K2 Dance, Netball WA, Aspire Tennis, Mark Lee Football Club, Hockey (current Olympian), and MBA Sports. Each day is unique, with students covering four different sports sessions each day. This is open to female students from Pre-Primary to Year 7 in 2023 from any school. Principal, Cate Begbie, was thrilled with the programme and believes it is vital service to offer both PLC families and the broader community. “What better way to assist our families in securing top-quality holiday care than through a fun and inclusive programme with an initial focus on sport?” Ms Begbie said. “It is our hope that future programmes will broaden to offer Visual and Creative Arts, water sports, and excursions.” For more information on the upcoming January programme, please see the advertisement over the page.