From the Senior Library

125 Years in 125 Days  – It is amazing to think that we have just completed our tenth week of counting down to the School’s birthday!

To celebrate our boarders returning to school this week, we decided to rearrange our festivities and feature the life of our boarders through the decades. Beatrice Lee from Kelso, near Bathurst, was SCEGGS’ first boarder arriving within the first few days of the School opening.

With very few schools open in many parts of NSW, boarding provided an important opportunity for country girls to receive a school education. Did you know, until the mid-1920s, nearly 30% of our students were boarders?

The 1903 boarder photograph was a great way to start our weeklong look at girls who were once part of the boarding life at SCEGGS. It is great to contrast the clothing of these early SCEGGS boarders with those from last year. (Please click on the thumbnail below to view the photos in full).

Alongside these formal photographs, the Archive has amazing images of our boarders from the 40s, 50s and 60s. These more informal photographs give us just a glimpse into the lives of our boarders.  (Please click on the thumbnail below to view the photos in full).

We also featured images depicting activities from the 70s and 80s where food, sport and friendship were key. A final image shows Ms Bowman posing with boarders on the same day she announced her retirement in 1995. (Please click on the thumbnail below to view the photos in full).

We hope the boarders have enjoyed being back with us this week and that everyone has delighted in our glimpse back to an important part of our School history. As Ruth Adams in the Wilkinson House Report in LUX 1988 summarises, “Boarding offers so many things – chief among them is the great feeling of community and an extra sense of involvement in school life…”

Last week’s quiz asked readers to identify the Old Girl in the 50s and 60s themed dance photograph. Our Old Girls on their Facebook page, rightly identified TV journalist Celina Edmonds, though there was more variance in answers as to which year it was – 1988.

Remember to view the countdown so far, via our Cognito Senior Library page. Scroll down and click on the “Celebrating 125” to view, or follow this link. Watch the videos as we near 50 days to go to the birthday celebrations!

Friday’s quiz question: Can you name any of the different locations around the school where the boarders have lived?

Dorothy Wilkinson Memorial Library and Archives