Objects of Substance- 2002 Boarders’ Plaque

students were known. They also had different views of common experiences - as explained by 1958 boarder, Ann Caston (Pressland 1958). “ I remember the rush to be the first in the bathroom to ensure a hot shower! I was privileged and enjoyed many hot showers since, as a student of the piano, Miss Crooks allowed me to practise on her piano at 6.30 am weekdays. ” Heather Waldron (Abbiss 1965) reminisces, “I made lifetime friendships and learned some valuable life skills. The challenge of making your 5 shillings discretionary spending allowance (about $8 today) last the week subtly introduced me to budgeting. There was a degree of loneliness, even though I had 80 ‘sisters’, but that was the basis for learning independence and … problem solving.”

1965: Heather Waldron nee Abbiss at the radiogram (centre).

The Oswin sisters, Jennifer (1976), Julie (1979), and Michelle (1981) were boarders spanning 1972 to 1981. Their collective memories speak of rules, regulations, and challenges but “it is agreed by all three Oswin girls that our secondary schooling at BGGS allowed us to forge positive lifetime skills, friendships and memories and this was such a joy and a privilege.” The sisters shared memories of tea frocks, hair washing only in the laundry, polishing the brass eagle in St John’s Cathedral, “scrape” or afternoon tea, and lunch in the dining room where “we all owned serviette rings and were expected to use our serviettes at every meal.”