Melbourne Girls Grammar’s community is unique, and the various events the School hold aims to bring all members together. School events can be formal, informal, casual, artistic, or sports-related, but what they all have in common is they allow our community to connect.

Below is a summary of the events the School will host to celebrate the 130 Year Anniversary. We hope you will join us in celebration at these events in 2023.

Merton Club – Melbourne Henley Regatta  

The 130 Year Anniversary encourages us to look to the past. We will be reviving the Merton Club – a rowing team for Old Grammarians. Relive your glory days on the Yarra and beyond. Earmark November for a regatta and stay tuned for further information.

Garden Party – 2 February 2023 

As part of our 130 Year Anniversary Celebrations, MGGS is hosting a Garden Party for our for our past parents. Taking place on the 2 February 2023, here you can reminisce about your time at MGGS with old friends and foster new connections. Attend with your partner, a friend, your Old Grammarian, we’d love to see them!

Chapel of Thanksgiving, St Paul’s Cathedral – 7 February 2023

MGGS is going off site for this special Chapel of Thanksgiving. The Service will be held at beautiful, historic St Paul’s Cathedral on Flinders Street on the 7 February. Students from Years 5 – 12 will attend.

Lines of Flight Book Launch – 7 March 2023

Special guests:
Author: Adjunct Professor Erica McWilliam AM
Foreword writer: Amanda Bell

2023 heralds the much-anticipated new book, Lines of Flight, which will officially launched on 7 March. Written by Adjunct Professor Erica McWilliam, AO it celebrates MGGS’s huge milestone – our130 Year Anniversary. The book highlights MGGS’s long history of being at the forefront of the education of women in Melbourne. It frames the education of girls in the context of popular culture and the historical landmarks of war, feminism and ideas on how to educate young women. Launching in the same week as International Women’s week, this special event will be held in the afternoon at the Merton Hall campus.

International Women’s Day Lunch – 8 March 2023

The annual International Women’s Day Lunch is a significant occasion for our community. In 2023, we reflect on the past, present and future of women in our School, Melbourne and beyond. Current parents and Old Grammarians are invited to celebrate together, with special guest speakers soon to be announced.

Past Staff Association Launch – 24 August 2023

To get to our 130 Year Anniversary, we needed the assistance of many talented and dedicated staff. Working at MGGS on the front line as educators or support staff, all represented the strength of our community. On the 24 August 2023, we are officially launching the Past Staff Association, dedicated to reconnecting, and celebrating the connection of the staff of MGGS.

Navy Blue Gala Dinner – 2 September 2023 

Our annual Navy Blue will be an evening event for the second year in a row. The Navy Blue will be a Gala Dinner – bigger and better for 130 Year Anniversary celebration. Current parents, staff and Old Grammarians are invited to partake in drinks and dancing, on a splendid night on the 2 September 2023.

The Big Picnic – 18 November 2023

Get ready to gather your family and friends for the biggest picnic in town. All MGGS Families are invited to celebrate the end of another wonderful year with an afternoon on the Merton Hall campus. Welcome summer with a fun day of lawn games, picnic boxes, music and more.

Engagement Events 

Over the course of 2023, we will be taking MGGS on the road. We’re visiting various regions of Victoria, as well as travelling to Sydney and Brisbane to visit all our Old Grammarians, parents (past and present) and past staff. Keep an eye out for dates for events in your area. 

Saturday 7 January 2023 – International Engagement Event: Toronto, Canada
Friday 23 June 2023 – Rural Engagement Event: Gippsland
Wednesday 20 September 2023 – Rural Engagement Event: Albury
Wednesday 4 October 2023 – Rural Engagement Event: Echuca/Moama

Old Grammarians Events

We celebrate our past students with a series of events for Old Grammarians. A combination of onsite and offsite events provides something for everyone!

Friday 31 March 2023 – National Engagement Event: Sydney
Saturday 1 April 2023 – National Engagement Event: Brisbane
Friday 19 May 2023 – Bellarine Old Grammarians Luncheon
Tuesday 6 June 2023 – DJ Ross Oration
Wednesday 23 August 2023 – South Australia Winter Dinner
Saturday 14 October 2023 – OG Anniversary Lunch / Boarders Reunion

Reunions

Wednesday 17 May – 2023 60 & 70 Year Reunion / High Tea
Friday 16 June 2023 – 10 Year Reunion (Class of 2013)
Friday 16 June 2023 –20 Year Reunion (Class of 2003)
Friday 11 August 2023 – 30 Year Reunion (Class of 1993)
Friday 11 August 2023 – 40 Year Reunion (Class of 1983)
Saturday 12 August 2023 – 50 Year Reunion (Class of 1973)
Friday 24 November 2023 – 1 Year Reunion (Class of 2022)

Celebrations and Announcements

The feeling of community is one that stays with our Grammarians from the moment they enter the School on their first day, until long after they leave. Sharing your news of new chapters in the life of Grammarians and Old Grammarians alike through Information Exchange (IE) helps us stay connected as a community and provides us with the opportunity to acknowledge these significant milestones.

OG Celebrations

• Sally Giam (2005) and Thomas Leung welcome the birth of their daughter Celeste Leung, born 22 December 2021
  
• Allison Young (2008) and Stephen Psyhogios welcome the birth of their daughter Juliette Theresa Psyogios, born 10 June 2022
  
• Emma Hawkins (Clapham, 2006) and husband Tom welcome new baby Henry Hawkins. "We were so happy to see family and friends again after years of separation due to COVID.”
• Rose Donohoe (2008): “I married my partner Oscar Hedstrom on an island in the Swedish archipelago on July 14. We were so happy to see family and friends again after years of separation due to COVID.

Queen’s Birthday Awards 

Kerstin Thompson (1982)
Award: AM 
For significant service to architecture, and to tertiary education.

Penelope Jane Jakobovits (1966) 
Award: OAM  
For service to the Jewish community

Other Awards and Achievements 

Claire Miller (2004)

• Claire recently graduated with a PhD from the University of Melbourne. After finishing at MGGS, Claire studied architecture and worked in both practice and as an academic tutor. For her PhD thesis, Claire examined spatial impacts of security measures in public squares. The research involved a case study analysis of security measures at Federation Square in Melbourne, Trafalgar Square in London, and Hashemite Plaza in Amman, Jordan. The security measures assessed include surveillance, fortification (eg, security fencing, bollards) and regulation strategies. The research relied on methods of spatial observation, historical research and mapping. The research revealed patterns of control and power, exercised through security measures, across diverse sites. The research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by developing a generalised framework for evaluating effects of security measures. The research can be applied in other spaces by expanding the existing literature geographically and including small-scale analysis of public spaces. Opportunities for further research include analysis of the continued development of the case study sites as new threats emerge and the focus of global and national security shifts. While global threats have changed over time and will continue to do so, security responses continue to be characterised by control of human behaviour in public space. Claire is currently working as a heritage consultant with Trethowan Architecture; a connection established through Nicola Trethowan (2004) – a fellow old Grammarian.

Vale

Acknowledging, celebrating and paying tribute to the women who make up our Melbourne Girls Grammar community is important to us. Graduates of Melbourne Girls Grammar and other community members have gone on to do incredible things with their lives.

If you'd like to pass on an obituary for an Old Grammarian or past staff member for IE, please email community@mggs.vic.edu.au

• Judith Moore (Price, 1943) — 12 December 2021
• Joan Margaret McCracken (Mercer, 1941) — 19 May 2022
• Barbara Matthews (Wark, 1946) — 28 May 2022
• Paula Stafford OAM (Robertson, 1937) — 23 June 2022
• Jeanette Summerfield (Watson, 1957) — 4 July 2022
• Sarah Locke (Gall, 1988) — 12 August 2022  
• Elizabeth Bills (Tymms, 1955) — 21 August 2022
• Gillian Hibbins (Parker, 1952) — 27 August 2022
• Glenys Deam (Cohn, 1962) — 30 August 2022  
• Winifred Curtis (Bate, 1944) — 4 September 2022  
• Robby Bedggood (Lesh, 1956) — 5 September 2022
• Jocelyn ‘Bunty’ Calder (Mother of Elizabeth Calder (2005) and Genevieve Calder (2007)) — 22 September 2022  
• Debra Shulkes (1992) — 16 October 2022

Judith Moore (Price, 1943)
Judith finished at MGGS in 1943 and spoke often of her fond memories of her time at school – especially whilst she was helping to look after the younger girls sent out to Marysville during the war. After school, Judith worked as an assistant bursar at MGGS and enjoyed the lifestyle of being a young, single woman working in town. Judith met Alan as she embarked on the trip of a lifetime to England in 1950 and after a whirlwind shipboard romance involving poetry recitations and day trips to exotic destinations like Sri Lanka, she married the love of her life, then brought him home to meet her parents. Together, Judith and Alan travelled the world having crazy adventures and making friends in every corner of the globe. Somehow, she found time to excel in many handcrafts and devote herself to a number of charitable causes. Judith and Alan started a family that grew from 2 children to 9 grandchildren and 7 (and counting) great-grandchildren. Judith lovingly cared for Alan in his final illness and then spent the following two decades living life to the full surrounded by, and devoted to, her family.

— Written by Charlotte & Kate Elder (Katherine Moore)‍

Joan Margaret McCracken (Mercer, 1941)
Joan was born at Toorak on 30 June 1924 and attended Merton Hall and graduated in 1941. After leaving school, she started working as a window dresser for a fashion house in Collins Street, before enlisting in 1942 with Betty Jess in the Australian Women’s Army Service as a driver. In 1946 upon demobilisation, Joan married Charles McCracken and settled down to raise three sons, Geoffrey, Robert and David, who all went to Scotch College. She was widowed in 1994. Joan died on 19 May 2022, aged 97. She maintained a lifelong association with the School and her many school friends.

Barbara Matthews (Wark, 1946)
Barbara was born in Sydney in 1928 and her family moved to Melbourne and made their home in Hawthorn when she was four. Her mother sadly passed away in 1941 and her father brought up a very loving and close family and this legacy lives on in the next generation. Barbara enjoyed her years at MCEGGS with lifelong friendships made during her time at school. Barbara often talked about being at school in Marysville during the war. Her sisters, Margaret McDonald and Nancy Smith, both attended the School, as did her daughters, Jill Kerr (Matthews, 1971) and Kristy Taylor (Matthews, 1972). Barbara left MCEGGS at the age of 17. She worked at Central Army Records at the Albert Park Barracks and did volunteer work with the Red Cross at Rockingham Convalescent Home where she met her future husband, Jack Matthews. They married in 1952 and lived on a sheep property near Hay NSW. Barbara adapted well to country life and just loved her life with Jack on the property and being part of the Hay community. They had 3 children, Jill, Kristy and Roy and it was a very happy time. Family was always the priority and they were always loving and supportive parents. After more than 50 years of marriage Jack passed away. Barbara continued to live in Hay until 2014 when she moved to Albury. Kristy lived close by, and this enabled her to live in her own home until two weeks prior to her passing at the age of 93. Barbara left us just as she lived – quietly and peacefully.

— Written by daughter Kristy Taylor (Matthews, 1972)

Paula Stafford OAM (Robertson, 1937)
Paula turned 102 on 10 June 2022, her final birthday before passing on 23 June 2022. She received an OAM in 1993 for her service to the fashion industry particularly in swim wear design. Paula is credited with the introduction of the bikini.

Jeanette Summerfield (Watson, 1957)
Jeanette was a boarder at the School for 10 years. She started as an eight-year-old, coming all the way from Portland. She lived for a time in the Junior Boarding House, Wildfell, the old mansion on the site of the present Morris Hall. Jeanette was a regular visitor to the School throughout her life, attending reunions, school events and, in particular, the History Society.

Sarah Locke (Gall, 1988)
Sarah joined the MGGS community from Euroa as a boarder in Year 9, following in her mother’s footsteps (Sue McKernan, 1965) as well as her aunts, Lyn and Ann. She quickly settled in and made lifelong friends. Sarah was a highly esteemed sportswoman representing the School in many sports at the highest level and on several sporting trips, including New Zealand and Brisbane. She will be remembered by those who knew her at school as a vivacious, funny, and an incredibly supportive and inclusive member of the School community. Sarah established a very successful career in Human Resources, using her excellent people skills in many corporate roles in Melbourne. She loved to travel and would carve out any opportunity to explore the world, stamping her unique, kind, warm, hilarious, and loud character wherever she went. Sarah married Stuart Locke and had two treasured daughters Sophie and Chloe. The family moved to Seymour where they entrenched themselves in the local community. She was an incredible community member, being heavily involved in the Seymour Netball and Football Club, including playing and coaching netball for many years. She took up golf and could smack a ball but had a few choice words to say about bunkers! She had an incredible impact on the town and its people with her unwavering community involvement. One of the many changes she drove was enhancing and planting trees in “her” local streets. Sarah was an active leader in her community, tirelessly raising both funds and riding her bike to promote awareness for breast cancer, a cause close to her heart. Sarah dedicated herself to improving the lives of others through sport, their careers, the town she lived in, her family and her wonderful cooking. Sarah passed away peacefully at home on 12 August 2022 after a long illness with breast cancer. She is very much missed by Stuart, Sophie, Chloe, her mother Sue Gall (McKernan, 1965), sister Emma Gall, cousin Amy Warner (Mitchell, 1991), aunt Ann Mitchell (dec, McKernan, 1961) and many, many friends who became family.

— Written by Rebecca Boykett Hall (1988) with Stuart Locke, photo kindly supplied by Chloe Locke

Gillian Hibbins (Parker, 1952)
The following is an edited extract of Gillian’s contribution to the Gilman Jones Scholarship Book in 2009. ‍

“What have I done since I left school in 1953? Enjoyed life, married, and had a daughter and two boys who, happily, have all chosen wonderful partners and provided my husband, Lex, and myself with eight grandchildren.  As for the rest? Worked! When the children went to school, so did I, with a BA from the University of Melbourne as ballast, to teach Politics and English at St Catherine’s while getting a DipEd at Monash. Writing a best-selling English textbook, “Stands to Reason”, enabled me to leave teaching to write. I wrote four local histories – for Nathalia, Springvale, Collingwood and the Barmah Forest and acquired an MA from Monash. I went into publishing on my own as Lynedoch Publications Pty Ltd., reprinting HCA Harrison’s “The Story of an Athlete” from which I became interested in the barely researched beginning of Australian Rules Football. I travelled to England and Ireland to investigate its background and published “Sport and Racing in Colonial Melbourne” which covers the start of many sports from the 1850s to the 1880s apart from football. From this, I was commissioned to write the opening chapters for the Australian Football League’s “The Australian Game of Football since 1858”. I have travelled widely, supported the feminist movement, earned a university hockey blue, loved skiing, played tennis, built a couple of houses, and was privileged to be a Paul Harris awarded member of the Rotary Club of Melbourne and its many service projects. I am exceptionally fortunate in my family, my friends, and my work. I bless Melbourne Girls Grammar for a happy and comprehensive education to life and academia.”

Glenys Deam (Cohn, 1962)
Since leaving MGGS Glenys became a teacher focusing on primary education. She took time off to travel to the UK where she also was teaching and singing. Later Glenys took some long service leave to travel around Australia and wrote a Children’s Christian song book “Clap Those Hands”. Glenys developed her own technique for art using a collage method from magazines which she continued to produce works of art. We displayed a selection of 12 of her works at her funeral. She married Mike in 1987 and had two children (now adults) Eddie who has taught snow skiing and IT and moved to a development role while Ally is in the fashion and arts side. Glenys passed away very quickly with a very short battle with Cancer (22 days from diagnosis). Her funeral was well attended at St John’s Highton with friends and family from interstate, Melbourne, Ballarat and Geelong. We laid Glenys to rest in Highton now in Gods loving care.

— Written by husband Mike Deam

‍Robby Bedggood (Lesh, 1956)
Robby attended MGGS from 1948 to 1956. She enjoyed her school days and made many lifelong friends there. Robby was in the Senior Tennis team from 1954-56. It was during these years that her talent for tennis was discovered and she started playing in local tournaments. She was accepted to play in the draw at Wimbledon in all three events – singles, doubles and mixed – in 1963, '64 and '65. Her most successful year was 1965 when she experienced the thrill of playing on Centre Court. She reached the quarter finals in the doubles and the fourth round of the singles. Robby married John Bedggood in 1969 and they had two children, Caroline and John. They spent much of their married life on campus at Geelong Grammar School, where John was a teacher, and Robby coached tennis there and worked in the alumni office for many years. They retired to Point Lonsdale and lived very happily there for over 25 years, sharing their Bellarine coastal community with many of Robby's old school friends from MGGS days. Robby was also the convenor of the Geelong Branch of the OGS for several years. Her joy for life and fun personality will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Elizabeth Bills (Tymms, 1955)
Elizabeth attended Merton Hall from age eight with her sister Helen. Known as ‘Timmie’ to most of her school friends, she enjoyed her school years and playing sport, in particular, hockey. She continued her school friendships after finishing in 1955, with a group of women who played cards for over 50 years together. She attended Melbourne University to study physiotherapy, working across various hospitals and finishing her career in Geelong with Barwon Health. She married Rex, a schoolteacher, in 1959 and lived in Glen Waverley where they raised five children. They moved to Anglesea over 30 years ago where, after her retirement, she became very active in the Geelong community, volunteering with a variety of groups. She was also kept busy with their 11 grandchildren! She and Rex travelled extensively around Australia in their caravan, and she managed a few trips overseas to visit family.  

— Written by Jan Bullock