Objects of Substance- Grammar Gloves and the Gate Duty Book

Across the School’s history, the uniform has essentially remained the same. There were variations of styles of blouses and skirts as many were homemade; however, the gloves remained a constant for over fifty years, being purchased from stores such as McWhirters, McDonnell and East, or Finneys.

1949 The elegance of gloves, hats, and ports!

Celia Baker nee Fearnley (1971) felt: They were the bane of my mornings, trying to find them in the mad rush to get to the bus! (along with tie, badge, and hat) As gloves were seen as an essential part of the uniform, it fell to the Prefects to ensure, once a Grammar girl stepped out of the gate, that she wore her uniform correctly – and this certainly included her gloves. Jenny Underwood nee Oswin (1976) remembers I was shopping in David Jones and was standing at a counter and had taken off ONE glove to fish some change out of my purse. I felt a heavy hand on my shoulder and a senior blasted me for being “out of uniform” and sentenced me to detention the following week. I am actually not sure whether I fronted up to the detention room or not. But it sure scared the hell out of me as a very naïve country kid. Thus enters the Gate Duty Book. Prefects on “Gate Duty” carried with them a book to record uniform breaches. Every sixth form had their own. The archive has the 1971 and 1972 VIB book and the 1973 Afternoon Duty Lower Gate and Afternoon Duty Upper Gate detention books.

Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online