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31. AWAS Captain Grace Howden (Thomson1937) during WWII2. Grace Howden (Thomson 1937)3. 1935 Kookaburra with photos of Joan Yates(1936) as she appeared in Prefects and A HockeyTeam photos, with her PLC hat badge (1930),Prefect tiepin (1935) and Book of CommonPrayer, complete with cross woven from grass.Marjorie Cartledge (Lissiman 1938),Thyra Robertson (Horswill 1935), KathWallace (Scott 1934), Dorothy McLarty(Partridge 1936) and Judith Allnutt(Pestalozzi 1936).She loved her seven grandchildren and fourgreat grandchildren and was able to connectand interact with them easily. Her interest inpeople and concern for others were intrinsicto the way she lived her life and reflectedher strong Christian faith. She had the abilityto accept what life brought her and to becontent and happy with her lot.Joan Yates (1936)2 August 1919 – 18 January 2012Joan enjoyed a country childhood growingup in Busselton where her father, Dr PercyYates, established a medical practice. Afterprimary schooling at Busselton State School,Joan began her six years of boarding at PLCaged ten in February 1930.Joan settled like a duck to water andloved her time at PLC. There were severalhighlights during 1935, her final year (Sub-Leaving). She was Captain of the RunningTeam, a keen forward on the A Hockeyteam and a Boarding Prefect. In June, DrSummers organised a private tour over theDutch submarine KVXIII for Joan and thetwo other Boarding Prefects, KathleenWallace (Scott 1934) and Hazel Higgins(Day 1935).The other major highlight that year waswhen the whole school celebrated theofficial opening of the new oval on 12October with great fanfare. Chair of CouncilDr D D Paton and Founder and long-termmember of Council Professor A D Rosspresided over the ceremony which wasimmediately followed by the very first InterHouse sports meeting. Joan was a closerunner up for Champion Athlete that day, inboth Open and Under 16 categories.After leaving PLC, Joan boarded with MrsJanet Dawson nee Phemister (PLCHeadmistress 1928-1933), who tutoredher in her Leaving at the Academic CoachingBureau in St George’s Terrace, run by MrsDawson in partnership with Mrs EdithWhitaker (PLC Deputy Headmistress1928-1930). Joan then returned toBusselton, but regularly accompanied hermother, Evelyn, on frequent trips back toPerth. She maintained her love of exerciseand became strongly focused on the Lingmethod, a series of precise, slow moving,gymnastic exercises also known as SwedishDrill, which was being adopted throughoutthe world at that time. In May 1938 Joantravelled to England where she commencedstudies at Bedford Physical Training College,one of only four women’s colleges inEngland that taught the Ling method.In mid 1939, along with representativesof 37 nations and 7000 demonstrativegymnasts, she attended the Lingiade festivalin Stockholm, the gymnastic equivalent ofthe Olympic Games held to celebrate thecentenary of the death of Per Henrik Ling,inventor of the method.Shortly thereafter, her studies weresuspended due to the war and she returnedhome via Canada, the US, New Zealandand the eastern states in late 1939. It was aharrowing journey but she was determinedto complete her training and had seriousambitions of doing so in Sweden, as shebelieved they led the world in physicaleducation. The continuing war made thisan impossibility, however, and she laterattained her Diploma in Physical Educationfrom Melbourne University. She then taughtPE for a short time, but was later prohibitedfrom teaching at schools due to her epilepsy,which was thought to have been brought onby a severe case of sunburn at age two. Shethen worked at the Forestry Department inBusselton before being appointed secretaryto the director of the Perth City Librarywhere she stayed for many years, charmingher colleagues with her quaint sayingsand excellent sense of humour. She hadWednesdays off and enjoyed spending themplaying golf.In March 1942, Joan was honouredto act as bridesmaid for lifelong friendVerna Rowbotham (Ross 1937). Therewere a number of opportunities for Joanto also marry, but due to the war andother circumstances, that occasion nevereventuated. She delighted in her friends’children and her nieces and nephews whenthey came along, and was very muchinvolved in their early lives.On retirement, Joan returned to the familyhome in Busselton to care for her agingmother and father who died in 1983 and1985 respectively. She then happily immersedherself in bookwork until it became evidentshe was suffering with dementia. Herdeclining health made it necessary for herto return to Perth in 2002, so she could becloser to her extended family and receiveproper care. She spent three years at PilgrimHouse in East Fremantle and the last six atAlfred Carson Lodge in Claremont and it wasthere she died, aged 92.43