Objects of Substance – The Merle Weaver Prize for Public Spe

1912, Merle Weaver

Between 1918 and 1951 — punctuated by stints away from Girls Grammar while pursuing alternate career pathways — Miss Weaver was a pioneering member of staff, educating multiple generations of Grammar girls. She was celebrated by another inspirational educator, then Headmistress Annie Mackay, as a teacher that ‘carrie(d) her classes with her’. Unfortunately, the verb ‘carry’ today oft has negative connotations — a burden, a heavy weight borne — but here it is used in its more inspirational sense. Perhaps a more contemporary way of conceptualising Miss Weaver’s ‘carrying’ is that she gave her students a metaphorical lift : her enthusiasm and spirit supported, sustained, and inspired girls to dream bigger than they ever thought they could; a move most crucial at a time when boosting the volume of the female voice was still considered a somewhat radical act. In hindsight, that there would one day be a prestigious, highly inspirational public speaking competition bearing Miss Weaver’s name appears to be something of a fait accompli.