A 100-year-old Gippsland Grammar Old Scholar returned to her old stomping ground to help the school celebrate its 100th birthday.
Gippsland Grammar was founded in 1924, the same year its oldest Old Scholar Dorothy Nolan was born, and on Friday she returned to St Anne’s Campus for St Anne’s Day festivities.
More than 130 former students of St Anne’s Church of England Girls’ Grammar School (which was the name of the boarding school in the beginning) joined the St Anne’s Day party which included a fellowship service with current students, the opening of a permanent historic photographic exhibition and a celebratory luncheon hosted by Principal Michele Wakeham.
When Dorothy Nolan (nee Glover) attended the school in Sale from 1935-1941 (year 7-12) she tolerated classes such as English and Mathematics until she could get outside for her favourite lesson, sport, which she attributes to her longevity.
“I used to look out the window at the big tree and wish I was outside playing tennis or basketball,” Dorothy remembered. When asked the secret of living a long life she said it was being active. “Well, I played tennis twice a week well into my 90s,” she said.
Ms Nolan turned 100 in May.
Back in the 1940s her father Jack Glover owned the Regent Theatre in Sale and when she left school she worked in the theatre with her aunt Eddie Trew. She also helped in the shop next to the Palais Theatre in Raymond Street which was run by her grandmother Ellen Elizabeth Glover (nee Fox).
She went on to marry and have six children, who she proudly said “are all still alive” and she has 18 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. It is impressive to think about the changes that have occurred in 100 years.
The day included the official opening of ‘Centenary Walk’ a visual timeline showcasing a snapshot of the school’s history over the past 100 years. The amazing photographic display was funded by the current St Anne’s Campus Parents and Friends and former students and their families.
Dorothy Nolan was thrilled to join current campus captains Charlotte Greenwell and Charlie Strachan to open ‘Centenary Walk’ and she was equally delighted to meet one of the younger current students, Hannah Lafferty of Foundation, who is the third generation of her family to also attend the school. Mrs Nolan and Hannah cut the birthday cake and Hannah presented her predecessor a belated birthday gift of bouquet of flowers and a copy of Gippsland Grammar’s centenary book, ‘Memories, stories from 100 years of Gippsland Grammar’ by Ann Andrew (nee Gooch), who is also an Old Scholar.
Margaret Blandford (nee Stothers), a member of the Class of 1952, was guest speaker. She is the great-grandmother of current Early Learning Centre student Oscar Morrison. To say the school is an important part of the family’s lives is an understatement. Oscar’s parents Leigh (Ting) and Tom Morrison were childhood sweethearts and met at school as members of the Class of 2005, his grandmother Lisa Morrison (nee Blandford) was in the Class of 1978 and grandfather Tim was in the Class of 1981 as well.
“So much history to be proud of,” Mr Van Berkel added.
Gippsland Grammar archivist Tim Gibson, of Bairnsdale, dusted memorabilia for the occasion. Many of the former students wore school badges to Friday’s event but one former student Heather Baker (nee Cameron) a student from 1953-1955, went one step further donning her entire school uniform including the hat and gloves, which of course were compulsory items during that time. Her sister-in-law Yvonne Terechow, a student from 1961-1964, was one of the many who travelled interstate.
“Gippsland Grammar is a leading independent day and boarding school with an impressive history,” Principal Michele Wakeham said. “The school has impacted many generations of students and will continue to make a difference for another 100 years, I am confident.”
“Many stories, which form today’s history, have been documented in Ann Andrew’s ‘Memories, stories from 100 years of Gippsland Grammar’,” Mrs Wakeham said.
Copies of the centenary books are still available from each of the school’s campuses – St Anne’s Campus Raymond St Sale, Garnsey Campus, Princes Highway, Sale, and Bairnsdale Campus, Bullumwaal Rd Wy Yung.
