F RO M T H E ARCHIVES

An Ever Present Push for Science

To this day the observatory is still utilised and an annual astronomy night is held, directed by the President of the Astronomical Society of Melbourne.

While the resources in our new Junior School STEM laboratories would have been more likely to feature in a Science Fiction novel than St Catherine’s School curriculum in the 1940s the push for Science has been ever present at the School.

In the 1940s, Old Girl, Diane Lemaire (’39) was the first woman in Victoria to graduate in Engineering, completing her degree at The University of Melbourne. Diane went on to become a leading aeronautical engineer along with many other Old Girls of the time undertaking courses in medicine, dentistry, science and architecture. The St Catherine’s Science Club was so popular during this time it was divided into Junior and Senior groups and the St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association established a fund for a new Science wing. Over the course of the next fifty years St Catherine’s commitment to providing girls with opportunities in the sciences saw two major refurbishments of the campuses Science wing. Firstly in 1963-66, the School’s Diamond Jubilee year, a new Science wing was opened with new laboratories, more classrooms and Physics and Chemistry labs. Then, again, in 1993, St Catherine’s unveiled a refurbished Science precinct to meet the needs of a new generation of learners and evolving curriculum with Sir Zelman Cowen officially opening the facilities. During this time, Science students, under the tutelage of Physics teacher, Mrs Pam Robertson were frequently utilising the School’s 25cm telescope to view the space collision of the Shoemaker-Levy Comet with the planet Jupiter. A setback to this was each night the telescope had to be carried up and down the stairs to prevent weather damage. As the fundraising efforts to fully fit out the new Science wing continued, a most generous donation from Mr and Mrs Clive and Margaret Wallace Smith enabled an observatory to be installed to house the telescope. The fittings and equipment were provided by parents and students who participated in a program generously funded by Mr George Altman of Renaissance Supermarkets and organised by Mrs Sandra Jane Rudegeair (’64). The observatory was officially opened in 1994 by NASA astronaut, Dr Rhea Seddon. This event was anticipated with great excitement and also included Dr Seddon becoming St Catherine’s Astronaut-in-Residence, where she worked in the classrooms with students on topics including satellite imaging. During Dr Seddon’s time at the School posters appeared around the campus reading, ‘Girls Can Do Anything’. Similarly, in 1943 students heard from visiting scholar, Dr Rathgeber, a scientist engaged in space research. Students at the time were enthralled, recounting, “This is the first time in memory that the School has been honoured by a visit from a scientist engaged in such important research.” From our past into our present, St Catherine’s students have always had a great thirst and enthusiasm to delve into Science.

Source: Hansen, D.E and Hansen I.V (1996). St Catherine’s: A Centenary Celebration 1896-1996.