Mentone Girls' Secondary College
Encyclopedia
Mentone Girls' Secondary College is an all-girl's state school located in Mentone
, in the Australian state of Victoria
.
The new school opened with enrolment of about sixty girls in Year 8 but without a building. Classes were held in local halls until the official opening on 11 October 1955. Miss Carr and her secretary gained administrative experience as they progressed in their roles, and they used a public phone box on the busy Nepean Highway
to talk with the Department of Education.
The new building had no heating, electricity or sound system, and the grounds were undeveloped for a long time. Notices and school news were written on a blackboard near the general office. Miss Carr lived in a flat in the grounds. She formed clubs for drama, the Red Cross, I.S.C.F. and a school choir, and she worked with the Ladies' Auxiliary and an Advisory Council that was established to support the school.
In 1958 a Ministerial Order changed the name of the school to Mentone Girls' High School. There were no immediate changes in the philosophy or curriculum, but a 5th form was established and planning began for Matriculation classes so that students could complete their studies at the school. A debating team was started and there were tennis, basketball, softball and hockey teams.
A Parents' Association was formed in 1960 and members organised film evenings and dance classes. A working party of fathers laid concrete paths and worked on the grounds, and Miss Carr managed the front garden.
By 1962 the school had a 6th form and Matriculation classes which led to 13 girls receiving Commonwealth Scholarships. Fund-raising was started for an assembly hall that was built two years later, the Nina Carr Hall.
1965 was Miss Carr's final year as principal. She was offered the position of principal at the MacRobertson Girls' High School, which was a great honour for a woman teacher in Victoria.
Although staff and students at Mentone were proud of her achievements, her departing from the significant role that she had played in establishing the college caused a sense of loss to the community. The staff presented a portrait to her that still hangs outside the present principal's office, and seems to be keeping an eye on what is happening. Miss Carr's old flat later became the Year 12 common room.
Jackson House was named in celebration of Marjorie Jackson
; Elizabeth Kenny
is the namesake of Kenny House; Melba House is named after Nellie Melba
and
Dorothea Mackellar
is the inspiration for Mackellar House.
Mentone, Victoria
Mentone is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 21 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Kingston...
, in the Australian state of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
.
History
The efforts of Frances Higgens, who wished to encourage girls to stay in school, lead to the establishment of the Mentone Girls' School in 1955. Nina Carr, a teacher at Colac High School, shared her views, and Frances persuaded her to apply for the position of principal.The new school opened with enrolment of about sixty girls in Year 8 but without a building. Classes were held in local halls until the official opening on 11 October 1955. Miss Carr and her secretary gained administrative experience as they progressed in their roles, and they used a public phone box on the busy Nepean Highway
Nepean Highway
Nepean Highway runs south from the centre of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia to Portsea, along the eastern shore of Port Phillip. It is the primary road route to central Melbourne from Melbourne's southern suburbs.- History :...
to talk with the Department of Education.
The new building had no heating, electricity or sound system, and the grounds were undeveloped for a long time. Notices and school news were written on a blackboard near the general office. Miss Carr lived in a flat in the grounds. She formed clubs for drama, the Red Cross, I.S.C.F. and a school choir, and she worked with the Ladies' Auxiliary and an Advisory Council that was established to support the school.
In 1958 a Ministerial Order changed the name of the school to Mentone Girls' High School. There were no immediate changes in the philosophy or curriculum, but a 5th form was established and planning began for Matriculation classes so that students could complete their studies at the school. A debating team was started and there were tennis, basketball, softball and hockey teams.
A Parents' Association was formed in 1960 and members organised film evenings and dance classes. A working party of fathers laid concrete paths and worked on the grounds, and Miss Carr managed the front garden.
By 1962 the school had a 6th form and Matriculation classes which led to 13 girls receiving Commonwealth Scholarships. Fund-raising was started for an assembly hall that was built two years later, the Nina Carr Hall.
1965 was Miss Carr's final year as principal. She was offered the position of principal at the MacRobertson Girls' High School, which was a great honour for a woman teacher in Victoria.
Although staff and students at Mentone were proud of her achievements, her departing from the significant role that she had played in establishing the college caused a sense of loss to the community. The staff presented a portrait to her that still hangs outside the present principal's office, and seems to be keeping an eye on what is happening. Miss Carr's old flat later became the Year 12 common room.
College Houses
When the Mentone Girls' High School opened in 1955, students were alphabetically divided into four houses. At that time, marching was a competitive school sport and Miss Carr oversaw the training and practice of the House marching teams. Today house activities are many and varied, but the houses bearing the names of women are still remembered.Jackson House was named in celebration of Marjorie Jackson
Marjorie Jackson
Marjorie Jackson-Nelson, AC, CVO, MBE is a former Governor of South Australia and a former Australian athlete...
; Elizabeth Kenny
Elizabeth Kenny
Elizabeth Kenny was an unqualified Australian nurse who promoted a controversial new approach to the treatment of poliomyelitis in the era before mass vaccination eradicated the disease in most countries.-Youth:...
is the namesake of Kenny House; Melba House is named after Nellie Melba
Nellie Melba
Dame Nellie Melba GBE , born Helen "Nellie" Porter Mitchell, was an Australian operatic soprano. She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian Era and the early 20th century...
and
Dorothea Mackellar
Dorothea Mackellar
Isobel Marion Dorothea Mackellar, OBE was an Australian poet and fiction writer.The only daughter of noted physician and parliamentarian Sir Charles Mackellar, she was born in Sydney in 1885...
is the inspiration for Mackellar House.