1986 Pipe Band

84 Pages·2010·18.55 MB·English

Signatures
CoverDesignedby:
SallyHare Year12
PRESBYTERIAN LADIES' COLLEGE
A College of the Uniting Church
...
';'
CORNER McNEIL AND VIEW STREETS, PEPPERMINT GROVE,
WESTERN AUSTRALIA 6011
CONTENTS
Editorial 3
Principal's Report 4
Speech Night 1985 4
Head Prefect's Report 5
BoardingHeuse Report 6
Cot, Service, and Relief 8
Student Council 9 \
Baird 10
Carmichael 12
Ferguson 14
McNeil 16
Stewart 18
Summers 20
The State ofth«r A,rts 22
Music 24
Debating 29
Public Speaking 30
The Boyfriend 31
House Plays 32
Yr 10 Community Programme 32
Boardwalk 32
A Christmas Carol 33
Literature 34
Year 12 46
Dances 44
Camps and Trips 57
Junior School 60
Sport 64
Freudian Slips 78
SchoolStaff 77
College Council andStaff 80
Editorial
adauntingandseeminglyinsurmountable task be way offon the horizon all the yearactually
is now well on the way to achievement. We gets here. Although to all appearances Year
can all recognise what an effort it has been, Twelves may seem serene (even apathetic?) in
not only for those on the Committee, but for reality they consist of live nerves continually
all thestaffoftheSchool as well. on the twitch.
One might have thought that once the Ofcourse "Kookaburra" added to ourP.L.C.
EvaluationwasovertheSchool might have had Year-of-no-peace-at-all. All those involved have
some peace but then came the trials and had a slightly harrassing time. Thanks must
tribulationsofthe Beazleyand McGaw reports. be extended to Mrs McArthur and Mrs
These arrived in the form ofalteredsyllabuses, McMahon, and also to the secretaries,
alteredmethodsofteaching,alteredexamtimes particularly Simone, who deserves a special
- in fact everythingwasaltered, includingthe Award for Patience. To all of those who have
structure ofthe school year. Where there were laboured on the "Kookaburra" Committee, as
oncethreeterms, therenowweretwosemesters well as those now famous - or infamous
comprisingfourterms. Programmesofteaching photographers, Cathieand Paula, you have my
had to be rearranged accordingly. With the gratitude, as wellasanyotherappropriateword
demands of continuous assessment as well as in theThesaurus.
KookaburraEditors. P. Voce,J. Lord,C. Nicholson. these other multitudes of changes, the staff,
and also the office, have been running a I must say that it seems rather incredible
marathon. Combined with the Evaluation, the that this first year of the new education
organization of P.L.C. turns into something programme is now coming to an end and even
akin to that well-publicized sporting event more incredible that this is the endofourfinal
1986: the not-so-aptly-named Year of Peace.
theAmerica'sCup. year for many of us. I'm sure that every Year
Such a title was not so apt a representatton
Twelve feels thesameat thistime - stunned.
ofthe yearas it revealed itselfto P.L.C. where
Thus anything even remotely approaching
it was in fact 1986: the Yearofthe Evaluation
serenity, tranquillity, orpeace has been rapidly 1986 - the Year of Peace, and the Year of
Committee, the Year ofthe implementation of
washed away. Forthe YearTwelves, T.E.E. has Anything-but at P.L.C., is almost over. It's
the Beazley and MacGaw reports, and finally,
swept it away in totality. I know this is said ratheran achievement.
theYearofT.E.E. forall ofus in YearTwelve.
everyyear,butImustassurenextyear'sTwelves
Isupposethattheideaofschool nevercarries that the wave of exam papers that seems to JIo'NNILORD, Editor
with it connotations of peace in any year. It
is difficult to equate peace with avid (or not
so avid) classroom discussion, the continual
chit-chat, girls changing lessons, girls arriving
at lessons(late notes?), girlsthisandgirlsthat,
not to mention the noise pollution of recess
andlunchtime. Itiseven hardertoequatepeace
with this general melee when you add the
complicationsofthe Evaluation.
ThetaskofevaluatingtheSchool beganwith
the SelfEvaluation performed by the staff. Not
onlydid theyevaluate theirown work, butthat
oftheSchool in itsentirety. From the canteen,
to the work ofthe lab assistants, nothing was
excluded.
FollowingtheSelfEvaluation,whichreached
its culmination in aseries ofreports, came the
Evaluation Committee. This Committee
comprisedvariousspecialistsin education from
all over Australia. The result of their meeting
wasafurtheranalysis ofthe School, both from
theirownobservations,(throughinterviewsand
othermeans), and from theirevaluation ofthe
report compiled by the School. Any member
of staff, student, parent, or other person
involved was encouraged to convey ideas,
problems or complaints to these people. Such
asystem was designed to portray a true image
of the School. The process has now reached
the stage of implementation, and only after
implementation will itsworth be truly realised.
It was, (or is) a courageous path for a school KookaburraCommittee. Back:A, Walker, J. Dowling, P. Voce, B. Gray. R. Harding. J. Lord. Front: F. Brazier,
to invite acritical analysis, but what was once H, Macleod,J. Unmack, F, Beck,C. Nicholson, P, Rollo.
3
Principal's Report
This year has been the International Yearof Speech Night 1985 SPEECH NIGHT 1985
Peace.
BACKSTAGE
Last year Speech Night was held in the
The theme for W.A. Children's Week was EntertainmentCentredue to the unavailability
In the past years P.L.C.'s Speech Night has
"Peace - liveand growfree." ofthe Concert Hall. Forsome reason Ialways
been held at the Concert Hall; Speech Night
Achieving peace depends on attitudes and look to Speech Night with reservations. I 1985 however, was held at the Entertainment
envisage hour-long speeches, occasionally off
actions. What we think affects what we do. Centre and while the size ofthe Concert Hall
key orchestras and hands numbed from
Whetherweare helpful, caringand considerate mightinspire imagesoftheViennaBoysChoir,
clapping. However, mypreconceivedideaswere
will be reflected in our everyday living, our the EntertainmentCentreconjuresthoughtsof
changed bywhat wasto follow.
decisionsand ourrelationswith otherpeople. the Ringling Brothers Circus (complete with
acrobats and elephants). Yet, although P.L.C.
Our attitudes will help us decide between The evening began with "Advance Australia
had none of these diversions to offer, Speech
the good and the bad, and also the complex, Fair", followed by the Concert Band which
Night 1985 wascertainlyanight to remember.
deciding which stepsweshould, and will, take treated us to the sounds of Billy Joel. Then
to help humanity, in the present and future for a second I thought we were listening to
Whiteribbons, whitesocksandtheraresight
generations. atape recording, but no, itwastheStage Band
ofpolishedshoesgreetedmebackstage.Nervous
The visit to Presbyterian Ladies' College of with some live (andvery lively)jazz music. smiles flashed across the room like camera
a group of Japanese children in August 1986 shutters amid ballet dancers, berets and
was a happy occasion of good-will, a fitting The Official Party entered and after our bagpipes (the latter wailing in the distance,
reminder ofthe joy ofpeace in contrast to the Schoolhymnandprayersfrom ReverendZayan, giving the evening an unmistakable Scottish
horrorsofwarandtheeventswhichculminated we were addressed briefly by the Chairman of flavour). The staff too were very elegantly
in August 1945. Other visitors, including the theSchoolCouncil,MrJ.Livingston.ThenMiss attired with the occasional compromise of
ThaieducationistsinOctober,andvisitsofPLC BarrgavetheannualPrincipal'sReportinwhich white ~hirt, jacket, collar, tie ... and jeans
students to France and Germany, have she summarized the year's events. Miss Barr (backstageonlyofcourse!).
establishedotherlinksofgood-will. wasfollowedbytheModerator,MissBerylGrant.
Towardstheendof1985,PresbyterianLadies' There was momentary panic in the Band as
College was invited by RedCrossto participate Dr. Vickery, the Director-General of theordercamefor"blazersoff]"(butwhatabout
Education and the last ofthe guest speakers,
in a project called Phone a Friend, which Red thisstainonmyshirt?")followedbylastminute
Cross and the Overseas Telecommunications heldaraptaudienceforatleasttwentyminutes. tuning, hasty wishes of "good luck!", general
Commission organizedto promoteworld peace He spoke about the potentially distressing re-shuffling in the ranks, another uniform
through international communication, subject ofthe finality ofYearTwelve (the end inspection and they were 'on'. Backstage then
oftheP.L.C.eraforsomegirls)usinghumorous
awareness and understanding. Our two settled down considerably.
anecdotes that displayed an astounding
representatives were Janine Bruce and Joanna
knowledge ofYearTwelvetrivia.
Farrell who spoke by 'phone to Sophiana in Forthose luckyenough to be there, the real
Tonga: with the free international phone link excitement of the evening was found in the
ThelastspeechwasbytheHeadPrefect,Alex
provided byOTC. wings, where MrsWood, MrsMellandMrsIvers
Jones in a mode to which P.L.C. had become manfully (or should I say 'womanfully')
During1986PLCstudentsparticipatedinthe accustomed- fastpaced,wittyandveryclever. performedthetasksoforganizingtheimmediate
project of writing "letters for peace" to world Thiscolourfulspeechwasbasicallya'thankyou'
performers and keeping the rest of us
leaders, a competition organized for school to the girlsand teachersoftheSchool fortheir
"QUIET!!!". Here in the dark, milled an odd
childreninthisYearofPeace.Theletter-writing cooperation and friendship during her term as
array of diggers, dancers, musicians,
stimulatedthethinkingofthewriters, andalso Head Prefect. technicians, singers and gymnasts, who (if
of readers, as some of these letters were
nervous off stage) on stage were brilliant. It
published in local newspapers. Academic awards were presented to the
is no small feat singing into a microphone (as
deserving and then followed a new and
What every person thinks, says and does is Heidi Stimson found out during an
innovative item called "Why Christmas?"
important. We can be helpful to others, and embarrassing introduction to the beast that
devised and directed by Mrs Ivers. Using mime,
we can be helped by, and help others with, morning) and there are things you pray will
the peaceofGod. dance, song and other forms of drama, it not happen to you on the night, like losing
depictedChristmasin differentways. Thesheer
the ribbon from your baton during the ribbon
These frequently quoted words are relevant
beautyofthe voices ofHeidi Stimson and Erin
dance.Scenessuchasaflockofleapingleotard
at all times, and very appropriate at the end
Gasiorowski probably brought tears to many
clad girls fleeing backstage from one wing to
oftheschoolyearandoftheYearofPeace: mothers'eyes!
the next to make their entrance cue, or Mrs
'Go forth into the world in peace;
Louden leading a troupe of Munchkins, are
Beofgoodcourage;
Finally, "Auld Lang Syne" as Year Twelves
images that stick in my mind and of course,
Holdfast that which isgood;
stumbled up the aisles clasping each other,
the change of pipes and drummers will not be
Renderto no man evil forevil;
crying, and the rest of the audience watched
forgotten either.
Strengthen the faint-h~arted; in silence - thinking ofthe past, thinking of
Supportthe weak; the future, thinking oftheir own days as Year
But as the last strains die, and the last
Help the afflicted;
Twelves.
drummersleavethestage,you realize itisover;
Honourall men;
"AnotherSpeech Night bites the dust" to put
Loveandservethe Lord,
MELISSABOSICH it in the words of Mr Rust, and thanks must
Rejoicing in the powerofthe HolySpirit.
go to all girls and staff who participated. All
And the blessingofGodAlmighty,
the hours of hard work had definitely been
The Father, theSon, andthe HolyGhost,
worthwhile.
Beupon usand remain with us forever. Amen'
(adapted) PrayerBookas Proposed in 1928 VENETIAMATHIAS
4
Head Prefect's Report
These representatives are elected at certain I 'will always remember P.L.C. for its
times during the year. The Forum is aseparate communal spirit - for the genuine bond that
entity to the Student Council although issues exists between students, staff and families. I
discussed are ofcommon interest. The aim of can only wish next year's Officials a year like
the Forum is to increase School spiritand also the one that I have had in 1986. Best wishes
to provide a means for all students to involve to all of them, especially Kate McArthur, the
themselves in the School community by 1987 Head Prefect.
contributingrelevant ideas.
FIONAMcALWEY
The Forum has proved very worthwhile as
many suggestions that have been made have
been implemented. Examples are, the
instalment of a new drinking fountain and
phone and the organization ofsocials, dances
and camps. The Forum also suggested that
rowingbeaddedtothesportsactivitiesavailable
at the School; there are now thirty five girls
involvedinaprogramwhichhasbeenorganized
byMrsCrawford.Somegoodideasfornextyear's
Fair have also been put forward at Forum
meetings.
Iwould like to thank the studentswho have
participated in the Forum. All of them have
made a valuable contribution and their
enthusiasm has provided the friendly,
encouraging atmosphere which makes the
FionaMcAlwey, Head Prefect.
ForumasuccessfulandimportantpartofP.L.C. School
Ihope that it continues to run successfully in
theyears to come.
1986 has been the most exciting and
enrichingyearofmylife.MyroleasHeadPrefect SuchenthusiasmandSchoolfeelinghasbeen Service
has enabled me to experience the essence of displayed on countless occasions during the
the P.L.C. community. P.L.C. represents high year.Anextremelyhighstandardofperformance
academic achievement, and offers avast range wasdisplayed in variousInter-Houseand Inter
ofsports, arts and academic opportunities. We School competitions, in the musical 'The The Annual School Service was held on
have an incredible School spirit and, most Boyfriend' with Christ Church and the Sunday 24th August, at St. Andrew's Church.
importantly of all, students who involve Boardwalk Festival. The service is one of the rare occasions when
themselves whole-heartedlyand who make the students, staff and parents join together in a
role ofHead Prefectaveryworthwhileone. I must express a sincere thank you to all body.
the members ofthe StudentCouncil who have
I began the year rather tentatively, as I am worked together to represent the students of The service commenced with the singing of
sure all the Officials did, but after the initial P.L.C. The Council has combined to form a the School hymn, during which the Bible and
shock I realized that my role as Head Prefect very effective body this year and Ithank them School flag were carried in.
was going to provide a fantastic way to meet fortheirenthusiastic ideasand efforts.
newpeopleaswellastobecomevitallyinvolved The Rev. Patrick C.S. Yeo gave a very lively
in the affairs ofthe School. My aim has been As the year comes to an end, I look back sermon on the theme "My God is Real",
to encourage studentsto involve themselves to upon mytwelveyearsatschool. Iamextremely capturingthe undividedattention ofthe whole
a greater extent in various School activities, grateful that I have had the enriching congregation. The lessons were read by Head
so increasingSchool morale. experienceofbeingHeadPrefectofP.L.C.This Prefect, Fiona McAlwey and Arts Captain,
role has enabled me to obtain an insight into Kirsten Hay. The Prayers of praise and
P.L.C. began the year extremely well. The how the School functions. I feel privileged to confession,andofthanksgivingwereledbyRev.
Inter-School Swimming Carnival proved our have worked with the girls ofour School and Zayan and Miss Barr.
ability to rise and meet a challenge. A toseetheirinvolvement,dedicationandSchool
tremendous amount of School spirit was spirit. TheChoirprecededtheCallToWorshipwith
displayed.Thisenabledourdedicatedswimmers Psalm ISO, while during the course of the
to improve on last year's result and we came I wish to thank each and every student of servicethechoralesang"IWaitedfortheLord",
aclose,excitingandverynerve-rackingsecond. P.L.C.especiallytheYearTwelvegirlswhohave conducted by MrsWilliamson.
all become close friends, providing warm
TheintroductionofaForum hasencouraged encouragement and support. Thank you This service to commemorate the decision
a new feeling of involvement amongst the especiallytoJulie, Bronwyn and Kirsten for all in 1915to foundaPresbyterianSchoolforGirls
students. The Forum is a general meeting of yourhelp. concluded with the traditional "God be in my
representatives (two) from each year of the Head", sungbytheSchool Choir, and handing
Senior School. Such meetings are relatively My thanks also go to the staff of P.L.C., backoftheSchool Flag.
informalandshouldseethegirlstakinggreater particularlyto Miss Barr, Mrs Dayand Mrs Bull
responsibility for what happens in the School. for theirencouragementand guidance. CARINARICHMOND
5
Boarding House Report
Twelve Dance in first term was one of the enjoyed the opportunity of carrying out this
highlights. All the conversation for a month role. Ithink it has helped me see the "behind
before until a month after the actual date was thescenes"organizationoftheBoardingHouse.
about the dance, which was a huge success. Even people who have been in the Boarding
It was held at the Merlin, and everyone who House for five years are often not aware that
attendedenjoyed it immensely. keepingthingsrunningsmoothlyhere isavery
difficulttask.
The Junior girls in the Boarding House had
many socials arranged for them as well as Of course there have been times when I
invitationsfrom otherschools. though I would not survive the year, but the
willing support of my parents and my closest
The Year Eleven tuckshop girls took friends has made the task much easier. Imust
advantage of the Boarders' weekends by thank the 1986 Boarding House Prefects
organising Boarders' markets. These have all Nyree Muir, Kathryn and Robyn White, Anthea
been verysuccessful and the money raised will Clarke, Lisa Newing and Anna Coward - for
go towards the purchase of something useful all theirhelp.
for the Boarding House. Last year we bought
a large colour television for Year Elevens. We I am very grateful to Miss Barr for her
are yet to find out what this year's surprise continual support. Thank-you also to the
is. I must extend my thanks to all who have Boarding House mistressesand Mrs Horton for
either donated, produced or bought from the all your efforts, and I would like to take this
tuckshop. opportunity to convey special thanks to Mrs
Murphy, who had special responsibility for the
Year Twelves during the first part ofthe year.
Throughouttheyeartheboardershave given
BestofluckatSacred Heart.
great support to the school in providing
volunteers to help collect donations in "door At the moment I am finding it difficult to
BronwynMark,SeniorBoarder. knock" appeals. This volunteer work has not believe that my school life is nearly finished
only helped people in need (through the Red after four years at P.L.C. I have found terrific
CrossandSavetheChildrenFund,forexample)
friends and I hope we will continue to be as
but has allowed girls from P.L.C. to become close in the future.
closer to the other people in the community.
On February fifth this year, the Boarding I hope in future years girls from the P.L.C.
Lastly, Iwouldliketopasson mybestwishes
Housegraduallyfilledtoitsmaximumcapacity, Boarding House will be equally generous with
toDebbieKing,the1987SeniorBoarder.Ihope
the noise level gradually rising to a peak that theirtimeand energy. the year is as fulfilling for her as it has been
would not diminish until latethat night.
forme. - Good luckforthe future.
Although my yearasSeniorBoarderhas not
As always, beginning a new school year is brought me a lot of glory and praise, I have
an occasion of mixed emotions, especially for BRONWYNMARK
new students. However, the year got off to a
flyingstartonthefirstSaturdaywiththeannual
trip to Rottnest. The weather was miserable to
begin with but then improved, in fact by the
end of the day various people had quite
obviously received more than their fair share
ofsun.That nightthere wasaconcertatwhich
the Year Eights were the main performers
although girls from all years participated.
Sunday morning was occupied by going to
Saint Andrew's in Perth. For many this was
a new experience that would be accepted as
part of Boarding House routine by the end of
their school lives at P.L.C. (As you can see,
this first weekend of term was packed with
activitiessothatlitMetimewaslefttoremember
homeand families).
This year for the first time in Western
Australia a four-term year, instead of a three
term year, wastried. AsyetIamstill undecided
whether it is a good idea or not, as the new
system appears to increase pressure on T.E.E.
students.
BoardingHousePrefects.Back;L.Newling,R.White, BoardingHouseStaff:Lefttoright:MrsA.Coupland,
There have been few activities arranged for A.Coward,K.White.Front:A.Clarke,B.Mark(Senior Mrs P. Horton, Mrs P. Hatch, SisterJ. Norris, Mrs
Year Twelves over the year, however the Year Boarder), N. Muir. N.Jeffs, MrsG. Larcombe, MrsA. Harris.
6

Cot, Relief and Service Report
three toffee stalls on various occasions, Thanks must also go to the ladies in the office
Summers House sold Carvel icecreams and who patiently endured my regular "business
StewartHousesoldpeanutbrittle. (Thanksand visits", counted the money and wrote the
congratulations to Nicky Ferstat who won the cheques. Thanks also to Miss Barr, Mrs Day
Houseprizeforsellingthemostpeanutbrittle.) and Mrs Bull whose advice was greatly
appreciated.
Our big Open Day venture on July 21st
alsoFunctionalArtsDay- wasahugesuccess,
ImustremarkonthegenerosityofourSchool
with every House sellingsome kind ofproduct
as a whole. It is gratifying to see that despite
guaranteed to increase the waistline but also
the occasional grumblesabout having to make
addingtotheprofitsforaveryworthwhilecause.
another effort to do something for Cot and
(Ferguson offered pancakes; Baird offered hot
Relief, girls at P.L.C. really do show concern
dogs;SummersofferedicecreamandDevonshire
for others. Student participation in the Red
teas; McNeil offered cakes, and Stewart offered
Cross Door-knock Appeal, Forty-hour Famine
chips.) Special mention should also be made
and manyotherstreetappealsshowsthis. This
here of Annabelle Morgan and Philippa Barr
H. Stewart,Cot,Service& Relief. year Community service was a significant part
who collected the mostorders for Carmichael's
of School activities and thanks are due to
lamingtons, sausagerollsandapple pies.
Reverend Zayan for organizing the Year Ten
visitstooldpeople'shomestospendafewhours
with the elderly.
On Bastille Day (July 14th) we had aCasual
Day with a French theme. Winners of prizes
forthebestcostumeswereEmilyWycheofYear
Well, the 1986 Cot and Relief team has Finally, my best wishes go to everyone who
9 and Mrs Pickard, who won the teachers'
completed its term ofoffice. The "TerrificTen" will be involved in organizing Cot and Relief
section.
who worked so hard all year to achieve what activities in 1987, especially the Co-ordinator.
sometimes seemed the impossible cannot go Ihope you have as much support and success
unmentioned. My thanks go to lemma Hardie The total amount raised this year was more and gain as much enjoymentas Ihave had this
(Baird), Kerri Whish-Wilson and Jo Thom than $4,000 - atremendouseffort! Again, my year.
(Carmichael), Venetia Mathias and Rachel sincere thanks to all the Cot and Relief team
Davies (McNeil), Sandie Stewart and Romola for their cooperation, effort and enthusiasm. I
Buhler(Stewart)and Robyn andKathrynWhite thoroughly enjoyed working with you all. SCHOOLCOT,RELIEFANDSERVICEHCEOAOTRHDEINRASTTOERW1A.9R8T6
(Summers). The tenth whose support has been
greatly appreciated is Miss Wright. She gave
up a lot of time to attend our meetings and
to handle the correspondence from the various
organizationsandsponsoredchildrenwhowrite
to us.
At the start of the year it was decided our
Cot, Relief and Service notice board needed
renovation - a task carried out successfully
by Rachel and Venetia. Then we turned our
attention to the even more important business
offundraising.
An early discussion with Mrs Day made us
realize that the best way to interest people in
Cot and Relieffundraising efforts was to catch
their attention by mentioning their favourite
four-letterword- FOOD. SummersHousewas
the first to prove this theory correctwhen they
made quite a lot ofmoney byselling hot cross Cot, Reliefand Service Committee. Back: P. Voce, P, Sears, J. Hardie, R. Davies. Centre: K. Whish-Wilson,
buns. (Special congratulations to Sally Gillam, K.White, R. White,V, Mathias. Front:J.Thorn, R. Buhler,S. Stewart, H.Stewart.
whowon theprizeforthebestSummersHouse
student effort). Summers House also had a
"Guess the Number of Lollies" competition,
(won by Mandy Linton). McNeil did a terrific
job selling "The World's Finest Chocolates"
(Kathryn Robson, Kylie Thomas and Jenni
Kennedy won the House prize foreffort during
this enterprise) while Carmichael House held
8