B R O A D E R H O R I Z O N S - St Hildas School

FROM THE ARCHIVES
Young women at dawn, shivering in neck-toknee
swimming costumes at Southport Pier’s
saltwater baths. Young women in panama hats,
stiff neck collars, full-length skirts and black
stockings, listening for the afternoon bell.
Young women cocooned in long white night
gowns, their pigtails 100 times brushed, prayers
recited, scrambling into bed before the powerhouse
closes down and all lights go out.
These are the images of a bygone era; of the
days of St Hilda’s pioneering boarders.
St Hilda’s, corner of Bay and Davenport Streets, built 1883.
In 1912, St Hilda’s School located on Bay
Street opened its doors to 23 boarders and 10
daygirls. Three years later, when 56 boarders
and 23 day students struggled to find enough
beds and desks, and the weatherboard school
house was bursting at the seams, the support of
the Southport community came to the fore.
The much anticipated Junior School Tuckshop opened on Wednesday
18 August with students taking great delight in lining up to purchase
their snacks at morning tea and lunch time. It was a wonderful treat for
some girls to see mum or dad behind the counter making
sandwiches, serving students and helping the youngest
members of the school community make their important
decision on how to spend 20 cents!
Junior School Tuckshop convener Mrs Marie Anderthon
worked tirelessly to prepare for opening day and has
proved to be a good manager and a master of the coffee
machine. Dispensing $3 coffees to parents and staff
has been a welcome distraction and Marie’s willingness
to support parent participation in the tuckshop has
generated a wonderful opportunity for parents to
participate in their school.
Miss Loder, long-term resident of
Southport generously built two
rental cottages to accommodate
St Audrey’s and St Bede’s
dormitories.
In 1917, St Hilda’s had outgrown
the Bay Street premises and staff
and boarders took up residence
in the recently constructed
Whitby building fronting
High Street and the first
senior student matriculated for
entrance into university.
Her well-rounded education cost
13 pounds 13 shillings for board, 4 pounds 4
shillings for tuition and 2 pounds 2 shillings for
laundry. Textbooks were supplied by the School
at ‘trade’ prices and music, painting, boating,
dressmaking, elocution typing, etching, pottery,
stained woodwork and dancing cost extra.
By 1919, St Hilda’s School had gained a
reputation for excellence. Miss Bourne
reported that, “progress has been made
in all grades of the school; enthusiasm is
encouraging, the teachers have set the tone of
earnestness in work and the pupils have already
taken it.”
However, boarding school had much more to
offer than dusty chalk boards, raucous bells and
multi-bed dormitories. Daily life was enriched
by social diversions and cultural entertainments
Community unites to deliver second tuckshop
St Hilda’s moved to Whitby building in High Street in 1917.
which were in Miss Bourne’s opinion, “popular
and necessary events.”
Fancy dress evenings, musical concerts and
plays were held regularly. The ring events,
merry-go-rounds and fancy work exhibitions
at the annual Southport Carnival offered rare
treats. The TSS Regatta was surpassed only by
picnics to Southport, Burleigh or Stradbroke
and inter-school sporting trips to Brisbane
meant single lane roads and river ferries.
Entertainments were well appreciated. One
girl wrote in the magazine that Miss Bourne’s
dance was, “one of the most exciting days the
boarders of St Hilda’s have ever known.”
Today, St Hilda’s approaches the 100-year
milestone; boarding life has kept pace with
modern trends, yet the core values of learning
and nurturing remain strong.
The Women’s Auxiliary has been instrumental in assisting with the set-up of
the tuckshop and all should take great pleasure knowing that funds generated
will be fed back into the School to support the learning of all students.
The Junior School Tuckshop:
a community project.
OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION
OGA News
Fete Update
The OGA stall at the Fete was brimming
with homemade cakes, biscuits and jams
as well as beautiful home wares created by
our members. Thank you to everyone who
contributed so generously. We raised more
than $900, the best result in years.
Fete raffle winners: First prize June Wilson,
second Sharon Hain and third Ros Rogers.
OGA Reunion Weekend
Friday 29 October
Principal’s and OGA Cocktail Party
6.30pm to 8.30pm
Centre for Scientific Learning and Research
St Hilda’s School
Saturday 30 October
9.45am Morning Tea, Rosemary Hughes Room
10.30am Tour of School
Sunday 31 October
9.30am Service at St Peter’s Anglican Church
Nerang Street, Southport
10.30am Morning Tea
11am Annual General Meeting
12.30pm OGA Lunch at Boarders’ Dining Room
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