1980 School Magazine

ln July 1922she returned to teach at her old school in a temporary capacity and tn 1923 she became a perma- nent member of the staff , a post which she held until her retirement during 1965, after forty{wo years of devoted service to the school. Some of you, or if not, your mothers, will remember Miss Kennedy as an excellent teacher of Mathematics in the Lower and Middle Schools. Always, she strove to instil into her pupils, sound mathematical principles, and she set before them the ideals of intellectual integrity and in- dependence of thought. But she did more than teach Maths in a classroom. Her relations with her pupils were the natural corollary of her own high principles of con- duct. Perceptive girls would have recognised the wisdom of her judgments, and her tolerance; girls who found difficulties with their work will remember with affection and gratitude her genuine sympathy and pa- tience; and all would have enjoyed f rom time to time - some more than others - her dry lrish humour and her ready wit, a wit that was never tainted with malice or unkindness. Although she could speak plainly and forthrightly when the occasion demanded it, she was by nature shy and retiring, shunning the limelight, preferring often to work as a "back-room boy". Miss Kennedy identified herself with many activities out- side the classroom. Bef ore the days of Sports Mistresses, she was responsible for the organisation of tennis in the school; she gave sterling service with Miss Macmillan in the management of school concerts, and she shared with Mrs. Jackson the often arduous work of selecting the school prizes for Speech Night, and the wise allocation of the books bought. I quote here f rom "Current Events" written for the 1965 School Magazine: "With Miss Kennedy's retirement, we lost, not only an excellent Mathematics teacher, but also someone who had come to be regarded by past and present pupils alike as an essential part of our School." Miss Kennedy lived quietly in retirement, and although her strength gradually failed her, she retained to the last her interest in and love of the school. Nor have lever known anyone who surpassed her in a strong sense of duty towards and compassion for, the sick, the dying and the dead. Last year, the Old Girls' Association paid her the tribute of conferring on her an Honorary Life Membership of the Association. On the 12th September, 1979, Miss Kennedy died, after a brief rllness, very peacefully. She just slipped quietly away. But the memory of a fine, loyal, Old Girl, will always remain. Marjorie C. Elliott OBITUARIES MRS. MOLLIE FRANCES CARMODY (MOLLTE PRATTEN) Hundreds of Old Girls will remember the name of Mollie Pratten who entered the School in 1920 and left after Senior in 1924. Those who knew her would have been saddened to learn of her death in May this year. Mollie remains in our memory as one of the greatest all- round athletes that the School has ever produced. She

Activities of significance undertaken during the year include:- A welcome to new members at the Annual General Meeting in February. An afternoon tea reunion held at the school during June when Old Girls enjoyed and apprectated the opportunity of seeing the many improvements to the school and its facilities since "their school years". The Art Show featuring a display of paintings, sculptures, pottery and other crafts was held on the School Day weekend and was as always a huge success - both socially and f inancially. We were fortunate in having the show opened by Miss Marjorie Neil, an Old Girl and Mistress of this school and currently the Headmistress of St. Aldan's School, Corinda. The Mother's Day Raffle was a tremendous success and we thank all the girls who supported us so willingly by either selling or buying tickets. Congratulations to the winners - Amanda White, a frtend of a student. Jean Vallis, Old Girls Committee Member. Looking to the future, we are again organizing a Chicken and Champagne Supper at the Art's Theatre on the 23rd November. This function has always been a happy event and an enjoyable way to end our year's activity. We in- vite all students and old girls to share this evening with US. We are always pleased to receive information regarding Old Girl's and this can be forwarded to our Secretary care of the School. We would like to wish all girls leaving the school this year "Every Success" in their chosen careers, and invite them to join the Old Girls Association which will enable them to keep in touch with the school and its activities. Finally, thank you lr,4rs Hancock and all members of the School staff for your help and support during the year. I am grateful, Madame President, for having been given the opportunity to speak tonight of one of our Old Girls of many years' standing, Miss Doris Kennedy, who died last year. lshould say at the outset that for part of this address I am indebted to a tribute written, lthink, by Miss M.A. Macmillan for the School Magazine when Miss Kennedy retired. Because of her health Miss Kennedy did not begin at Primary School until she was eight years of age; then in 1912 she entered Brisbane Girls' Grammar School, hav- ing won a State Government Scholarship tenable for three years. Only twenty-five scholarships were given throughout the State in those days, the examination be- ing competitive, and not merely qualifying. lncidentally, her seven brothers and sisters achieved the same distinction. ln 1916, on the results of the Senior examina- tion, she won a Teaching Scholarship to the Queensland Unrversity, from which she graduated rn Arts in 1919. Miss Kennedy loved her school, and f rom what she has told me, her five years spent here as a pupilwere happy ones - so richly evident in many warm recollections and delightful anecdotes spiced with humour of that time, which remained with her all her li{e. Lorraine Chesters, President. MISS DORIS V. KENNEDY