News - Perth Modern School

Exceptional schooling.
Exceptional students.
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Modernians Welcomed into
Hall of Fame
Three Perth Modern School Alumni were recently entered into the
first 100 women in the Virtual Hall of Fame, announced at this year’s
International Women’s Day. Irene Greenwood (nee Driver), Janet Holmes
a Court (nee Ranford) and Margaret Nadebaum were honoured.
Irene Greenwood (nee Driver) was a
student at the School between 1913
and 1916. Broadcaster and advocate of
women’s welfare, Greenwood was an
active participant in Mock Trials and
Debating competitions during her time
at Perth Modern School. She was a
prolific writer for the School magazine
and after leaving the School, remained
a strong contributor to the Modernians
Society. She was awarded an AM in 1975
in recognition of her contribution to the
welfare of women. During her career,
she was writer and editor of Dawn, the
official organ of the WA Council for Equal
Pay and Opportunity. As one of the
first women to be employed by the WA
Government in a professional position
after WWI, she became a passionate
supporter in the fight for women’s
rights. This led to her developing a
public profile as a broadcaster as well
as holding official positions with the
Women’s Service Guilds and the League
of Women Voters. During the 1940s,
Irene organised the Annual International
Women’s Day Rallies. She was also a
representative to Congresses of the
International Women’s Suffrage Alliance
and the International Alliance of Women.
Janet Holmes a Court (nee Ranford) was a
student at Perth Modern School between
1956 and 1960 and was a teacher in
1965 and 1966. Her well documented
career includes involvement in the
establishment of husband Robert’s
Law Firm, Board memberships of the
WA Cancer Foundation, the Australian
Television Foundation, the Diabetes
Research Foundation and King Edward
Memorial Hospital for Women. Holmes a
Court has also served as a member of the
UWA Senate and the Board of Australia’s
Reserve Bank. A committed contributor to
the Arts in Australia, she is recognised for
her philanthropic activity in this sphere.
In 1995, Holmes a Court was awarded
the AO for services to Business, the Arts
and the Community. She was awarded a
Centenary Medal for service to the Arts.
She is Chair of WA Symphony Orchestra
and the Black Swan Theatre Company.
Margaret Nadebaum was a student at
Perth Modern School between 1958 and
1959. She received a Teacher’s Bursary in
1958 and was a School Prefect in 1959.
She graduated from Claremont Teachers’
College in 1962 and after teaching at
several high schools, embarked on
an exchange to the UK in 1971. In the
following year, she became Principal
Mistress and later Deputy Principal at
Thornlie then Willetton High Schools.
Nadebaum had a lengthy career in the
State Education Department with roles
including Superintendent of Education,
Regional Officer, Director of Operations
and Chief Executive of the Ministry of
Education. In December 1992, she took
up a position as Principal of Methodist
Ladies’ College.
Excellent Results in Tennis
10 weeks of hard training paid off when Perth Modern School
Year 8 boys won the Lower School Cup in the Grand Final
against CBC Fremantle on Thursday 7 April. Dylan Wood, Paul
Burnett, Ben Hotchkin, Mitchell Gill and Thomas Almeida were
the members of the Champion Team.
Perth Modern School Upper School Boys’ team played off on
Tuesday 12 April in the semi finals against Applecross to make it
Perth Modern School > NEWS April 2011
Drama
Students
Experience
Trauma
It’s hard to imagine the emotional
trauma and terror people
experience when involved in a
national or local disaster. With
this in mind, the Year 11 Drama
Class performed a 60 minute
improvisation which looked at how
a class of students would react
when the School was in lockdown.
The students took on stereotype
roles of Cheerleader, the Geek,
the Sporting Jock and alternative
teens in an American High School
in the 1990s. They had to dress
accordingly and improvise realistic
scenes in an attempt to understand
how people would cope with a
traumatic situation. There were
outstanding performances from
the Teacher, Eliska O’Connor and
the Sporting Jock, Afro-American
Tom Bolton. This was a unique way
for the students to learn the skills
of creating believable and genuine
characters. A great start to the year.
into the Grand Final. The team lost in overtime after a draw.
In a nail biting game, they came very close to winning.
This is an outstanding effort when it is considered that the boys
were competing against specialist tennis schools. Students in
the Upper School Boys’ team included Stefan Raovic, Jimmy
Campbell, Kieren Bell, Lawson Smith, Eduardo Arteaga and
Mark Teo.