Objects of Substance - Giddy and Guileless Grammar Girls Acr

Creina ’s cartoon in this instance features the esteemed yet formidable Miss Thomas (later to become Mrs Yeates), a teacher of Modern History and a senior Form Teacher, in a career that spanned 21 years between 1951 and 1971. O’Dwyer tells us a lot about those times in the ‘60s and long before, where fraternising with a boy, and – gasp – a Brisbane Grammar student was strictly off limits.

Rules are rules. The lines were then clearly drawn for separation in the laneway of Kalinga Ave as the two schools’ border zone.

But the sketch again says so much about how our students dressed: short skirts with black stockings and gloves, topped off by a straw Panama. The Brisbane Grammar student could pass for today but what also gives away a different time are the school bags, the old fashioned “ports”. Miss Thomas also wears a hat, customary outdoor wear for women of that time. So here she is wielding her umbrella to chase away the unseemly behaviour of boy meets girl in school uniform within the precincts of both schools. Miss Thomas enjoyed being included in the jokes.

On a more personal note, Creina has drawn this message of friendship to her friend Caroline, brought down by a broken leg.