PRATT, Agnes Gertrude Loveday (1876-1969) M.A. (Melbourne) B.A., Dip. Ed. (London)Article by Su TaylerFirst Principal 1920 to 1941 – ‘Roslyn’ Presbyterian Girls’ College and ‘Morongo’ Presbyterian Girls’ College, when the school moved to Bell Post Hill.
Lucernium AccenditTranslation: “She lit the lamp”From the foundation stone for Gertrude Pratt Hall (1959).Miss Pratt literally “lit the lamp” as the foundation principal of ‘Roslyn’ Geelong Presbyterian Girls’ College (1920), later known as ‘Morongo’ Presbyterian Girls’ College (1927). She was responsible for the set up and running of the school, beginning first term 1920, age 44. Establishing a school based on what she had studied & witnessed at home and abroad, introducing modern practices from her time in Europe.
Miss Lucy Shaw speaking of Miss Pratt said:
“The new school was a venture of faith and any Principal needed great courage, great determination, great vision to see the school on its way. Miss Pratt possessed this courage, this grim determination and the vision necessary for success.” The move to Bell Post Hill within seven short years of the school being establishes was seen “proof of her success.”Miss Pratt was instrumental in choosing the school colours (navy blue, green and gold), school song and the motto – 'Sint Lucernae Ardentes' – (which was suggested by a Former Warder of Trinity College).
“In presenting her report Miss Pratt traced the evolution of women's education during the past century, a time of solid progress and notable achievement, marked by years of amazing change, which had altered the whole aspect of human life. Science had revolutionised industry, and through machinery man had created a power that had endangered his own peace of mind and lessened his opportunity of work. We lived in an age of speed, and we had thrilled to the conquest of the air and the elimination of distance. But, wonderful as were all these changes, none was more arresting or more far-reaching in influence than the silent revolution which in the last 50 or 60 years had given us a new conception of women's work and their place in the general community. For not till 1850 had there begun in England that remarkable movement for the better education of girls, which, triumphing overall difficulties, had gained for women the right to share with men the advantages of higher education and the duties, and privileges of citizenship. Not by the wildest flight of imagination could it have in those early days seemed possible for women to meet with women of other countries in a great international congress to discuss their own especial problems of citizenship. And yet all this had actually come to pass and as an accepted part of our Centenary celebrations.” ‘MORONGO’ (1934, December 15).
The ArgusIn this day and age (2016), one would say Miss Gertrude Pratt was an amazing go getter; in her day she would have been seen as ahead of her time. Her own father was reported to have said with her University education a M.A., her only option would be to become a teacher as a woman.
In reading about teaching in 1915 there were contracts for women teachers; with clauses that stand out: they must not marry. A married woman must be at home! Dresses had to be a certain length, colour and more very staid rules.
Gertrude Pratt was described as a tall, commanding and capable teacher, accomplished at keeping perfect discipline, a woman with the gift of quickly winning the affection and esteem of her staff and pupils.
Miss Pratt retired at the end of 1941 to Melbourne, after 21 years of service at Morongo, age 66. She returned many times and more specifically to open the Assembly Hall on July 11th, 1959, named in her honour. She fondly received and remembered names and faces of many former old collegians during her retirement. Mr Ernest Wilfred McCann at the special assembly for the passing of Miss Pratt spoke of her in these words:
“There is no doubt that the foundation she laid for the School had a great deal to do with the success School...but I believe the greatest memorial to Miss Gertrude Pratt is to be found in the many women throughout Australia and other parts of the world today who, when they open their newspapers and learn of the passing of Miss Gertrude Pratt are going to thank God that they had her at one time or another as Headmistress.”BackgroundMiss Pratt was born in North Adelaide, South Australia on the 16th of June, 1876, daughter of accountant and Melbourne General Cemetery Secretary William Nathaniel Pratt & Mary Jane Beaney, sister of William, Edith and Winnifred. She died in Hawthorne, Victoria on the 23rd of July, 1969, age 93. The Pratt family is buried at the Melbourne General Cemetery.
Miss Pratt began her schooling at age 2½ years! ...and was educated at the Methodist Ladies' College in Hawthorn. She graduated from Melbourne University, and prepared for her career by post-graduate study in England and France. Miss Pratt went to read History at Melbourne University and it was there she undertook her B.A. and subsequently M.A. degrees, going on to work in important appointments in girls' schools in Melbourne, Adelaide and Bendigo.
‘Roslyn’ informally opened on February 17, 1920; there were present 91 girls, 20 of whom were boarders.
Prior to this, Miss Pratt was notably headmistress of Girton, Bendigo (1917-1919).
The property known as Roslyn at the corner of Elizabeth St and La Trobe Terrace, Newtown and, in doing so, had absorbed Miss A C Harris’ Newtown Ladies College.‘GIRTON GIRLS' SCHOOL’ (1917, February 9).
Bendigo Advertiser“While in England, Miss Pratt attended the Bedford College for Women, London, and secured her teaching certificate. She also obtained by practical and theoretical examination the Diploma of Education of the London University, which is one of the highest qualifications in the teaching profession at the time. Miss Pratt also holds a certificate of attendance, at the Oxford Summer School for Geography, where she did practical work under leading English professors. Proceeding to France for further study of the language, experience was gained in French methods, and lectures attended at the Alliance Francaise, Paris. She was in France during the Hun invasion. On her studies being completed Miss Pratt returned at the first opportunity to Australia, and Girton board believed it would “have the full result, of the application of the most modern school methods, modified of course, in the light, of Miss Pratt's experience with her knowledge of Australian conditions, and of the Australian girls' temperament.
The new head mistress purposes to continue the system lately introduced, of including a business training course of shorthand, typewriting, bookkeeping and business methods in the senior class subjects, in view of the many openings now becoming available to girls.
Under the experienced and capable management of Miss Pratt and with the advantage of her qualification in the best and most, modern educational methods, Girton, the chief educational establishment for girls for this Northern district, should continue and improve upon the prosperous career on which it has already entered …”‘GEELONG’S NEW COLLEGE’ MISS PRATT & HER STAFF WELCOMED’ (1920, February 16).
Geelong Advertiser"At 'Roslyn’ on Saturday afternoon, Cr. J. Pettitt, chairman of the Presbyterian Ladies' College Council, entertained a number of friends of the school and old girls in order to give them an opportunity of meeting and welcoming the Principal, Miss Gertrude Pratt, M.A., and her staff.
... We hope to make it the best school in the district. We are proud of the staff we have gathered together, whom we chose from many aspirants for the positions. We owe much to Miss Harris for the great amount of good she did for the Newtown Ladies' College, and we trust in the future to continue the work of character building. It is a true saying that the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.' Every one of us knows how much we owe to our mothers and sisters; therefore it is of vital importance that girls should be trained to act and think only in the highest and noblest way, so that they will be a credit to the community. The staff will have to work hard to build up the school, and we hope the Old Collegians will help, too. On behalf of the College Council and Old Collegians, I wish Miss Pratt and her staff every happiness, success and prosperity.
Mrs Vernon Purnell (president of the Old Girls' Association) assured the council and staff that that association would have the same love for the new school as for the old and its members would give all possible assistance for the benefit of the college.
In thanking those assembled for their hearty welcome, Miss Pratt said that she considered it a privilege to be placed in the position of principal of the school, and she fully realised the responsibility laid on her. She remarked that the new buildings had sprung up as if by magic, and she added that a warm welcome would always await Old Collegians when they cared to visit 'Roslyn’. ...”Sources:Cowperthwaite, Doreen and Morongo Presbyterian Girls' College. Council.
Morongo: a history of the Presbyterian Girls' College, Geelong, Victoria, Australia, 1920-1970. (
The First Fifty Years) Lothian Publishing Company for the Council of the College, Melbourne, 1969.
Warland, Pamela and Morongo Old Collegians Inc.
Morongo Old Collegians: 1920-1995. Morongo Old Collegians Inc, Geelong, Vic, 1995.
Monks, Dina, Wynd, Ian and Black, Wendy.
Lucy Shaw: headmistress. Wendy Black, Geelong, Vic, 1998.
‘MORONGO’ (1934, December 15).
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.: 1848 - 1957), p. 18. Retrieved February 16, 2016, from
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11001093‘GIRTON GIRLS' SCHOOL’ (1917, February 9).
Bendigo Advertiser (Vic.: 1855 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved March 30, 2015, from
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90717852‘GEELONG'S NEW COLLEGE’ (1920, February 16).
Geelong Advertiser (Vic.: 1859 - 1924), p. 3. Retrieved March 31, 2015, from
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16541543