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SHAW, Lucy (1898-1999)

SHAW, Lucy (1898-1999) MBE, BA, MACE
Article by Su Tayler
L. Shaw (Lucernian 1942)

L. Shaw (Lucernian 1942)


Second Principal 1942-1970 ‘Morongo’ Presbyterian Girls’ College.

“Why did we think it the best school in the world? It was all because our principal was a Queenslander called Lucy Shaw.” Dina Monks, (1951 Cannon)

Miss Shaw’s studies were completed at Queensland University and the Brisbane Teachers Training College simultaneously graduating with a BA and teaching credentials. She joined the teaching staff at the Geelong Presbyterian Girls College in 1922, then known as ‘Roslyn’ for 5 years after her first post of 3 years at the Rockhampton Technical School. Miss Pratt employed her as an assistant mistress but by 1923, she had become the chief of staff and was on her way towards a career as a headmistress.

After her stint at ‘Roslyn’, Miss Shaw was employed as headmistress of Clarendon Presbyterian Ladies’ College in Ballarat, in 1934 she moved to the Presbyterian Girls College at Glen Osmond in South Australia as Principal. In 1942, she returned to Geelong as headmistress of ‘Morongo’.

“She was of the era of spinster teachers, many of whom had had boyfriends and fiancés killed in World War 1 and we all thought especially of her when we sang “O Valiant Hearts, who to your glory came” on Anzac Day.”
Morongo Newsletter – Dina Monks.

In 1966, her career was recognized for her service to education, with an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list.

At age of 72, she retired and moved to Ocean Grove.

Background
Miss Shaw was born in Brisbane, Queensland on the 25th of February, 1898, daughter of Baptist minister Alfred Duncan Shaw and Caroline Voight. Siblings of Lucy Shaw were: Arthur, Daisy, Ethel & Raymond. Her father was posted to the Aberdeen Street Baptist Church, in Geelong in the 1920’s, however, when she returned as Principal he moved back to Queensland.

In 1965, Miss Shaw spent 6 months travelling in Europe, Great Britain, Ireland, the USA and Canada, during which time she visited many old collegians based overseas and many schools for ideas to return to Geelong with.

Miss Shaw died in Ocean Grove on the 7th of June, 1999, age 101.

Miss Shaw in her own words – Founders Day Assembly Speech – 19th of June, 1989
“I apologise for talking so much about myself - something I dislike intensely, but as I am sharing my memories with you, this seems inevitable.

I must confess that when I first joined the Staff of the school (which was then situated in Geelong at Roslyn). I was rather shocked. I was educated at a Church of England Grammar School, which was built on a hill overlooking the City and the distant mountains. It was a large brick building built round a central hall, with airy classrooms. The grounds were spacious, with tennis courts, a large gymnasium, basketball court and a fives court. We understood that our Head Mistress had introduced basketball from America to Australia - a rather different game from the one you now play. I took all this for granted.

And what did I find at Roslyn? A fine boarding House surrounded by houses, a block of timber classrooms and two small wooden cottages, one of which was the Junior Boarding House. I think the small kitchen served as a Science room. I recall dissecting frogs and rabbits outside, at a gully trap, if you know what that is. There was a basketball court tucked in between the block of classrooms and the cottage. This was a gravel court. In those days the girls played in black stockings, so if they fell they tore the knees out of the stockings, so they learned to stay on their feet. There were no tennis courts - there was no room for even one. We had the occasional use of a court at 'Como' next door, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock. You may not be familiar with that name, but no doubt your parents will recall the firm, Bright and Hitchcock, well known in Geelong. The first four practised on the court at St. George's Presbyterian Church - at 6 a.m.! If that was not enthusiasm, I don't know what is. I remember coaching the first four at the Alexander home in Newtown, so I was very interested to know that Mr. and Mrs. Alexander, presumably of that family, are actively engaged in Morongo affairs. That is a link with the past. We walked - no luxuries like buses - to Kardinia Park for baseball. …

The founders of the School had dreams of a school, a girls' school that would take a proud place among the schools of Victoria, and indeed of the Commonwealth. They realized that a growing school needed more spacious surroundings, so they began searching. One property was bought, but proved to be unsuitable. Finally Morongo was the answer - a country property miles away from the City. At that time there were no houses between Morongo and what is now the Grace MacKellar Home. The MacKellar family was still living there. They later generously handed over the property to Geelong. The Pettitt family lived next door to Morongo - Mr. Pettitt was one of the founders - and the Robb home lay on the other side of Ballarat Road. You can imagine our excitement - I was as excited as anyone. However fate intervened and I was whisked away to take charge of Clarendon College, Ballarat and later of P.G.C. Adelaide. I am happy to see one of my Adelaide girls here today.

Then I returned to take charge of Morongo. It was wartime and my first duty was to evacuate the school. We had an invasion of high ranking military officers wandering round with a view of taking over Morongo for military purposes. I had the doubtful pleasure of showing over the school, a top service woman. Though I doubted that she could sway the decision, I thought it worth a trip, so I set to work to point out that this could be the end of the school - that more than twenty years' work could be lost. The girls would be scattered, for their education must continue. Surely there was a place which would not disrupt the lives of so many. Why chose Morongo? I realised that all my eloquence was in vain when she answered, oh so soulfully, "But the ablutionary arrangements are so good". "Ablutionary arrangements" indeed, when I was trying to save the school -all that Morongo meant to her was the plumbing! I had more sympathy from one of the officers - not the Top Brass, for I did not have the nerve to.

No doubt I would have been told there was a war on and I did not need to be reminded of that. We realised something must be done; so I found myself in the train with Miss Pillow, the Matron, and Mr. Don Neilson, Secretary of Council and father of Geoff Neilson, the present Secretary, heading for Glenorchy to Warrennooke, the station homestead of Mr. and Mrs. Clive Campbell. We spent a day or two arranging for the girls to sleep round the balconies - imagine this in winter - and for classes to be held in the woolshed. We sent off stores, booked buses - the girls had some of their kits at the school. Two mothers - both doctors were to accompany us. Then to our great relief the military decided not to take over the school. I am sure Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were as relieved as we were, to find their country peace was not to be shattered by crowds of school girls. However the war dragged on, the danger of invasion and bombing still a possibility. Morongo was in a vulnerable position, high up and near the coast. We regularly practised evacuating all buildings. Miss Henderson who was one of those who leaped down the stairs will correct me if I am wrong in saying we cleared the school in 1 1/2 minutes. All forms had their assigned places under the trees. The boarders had a double dose, for, hard-hearted creatures as we were, we rang a bell when they were fast asleep and they had to go downstairs by their appointed means of escape. Of course they always had to keep their dressing gowns, slippers and rugs to hand. Each group leader had to report that all were present - if not, she had to return to rescue any sleepy head. I suspect that some were prepared to take what was coming, rather than leave their warm beds to go out into the cold world!

It was rather difficult to run a boarding school in those days. We had rationing, coupons for petrol, for clothing, butter, sugar, meat, etc. When the boarders went off for a weekend, they took with them their ration of butter - four pats, as it was unfair to use the small ration of their hostesses. However, I would be ashamed to moan about our hardships, which were mere pinpricks compared to the sufferings of those in Britain. One restriction may interest you, for it concerned your uniform. Mr. Dedman was Minister of War Supplies - I am not sure of his exact portfolio - He in his wisdom decided that schools must not require students to wear uniform. Mr. Dedman was a member of St. David's Church in Newtown and sat in the back row of the transept. On the first Sunday of the school year, I watched him as the boarders filed in, row after row. His eyes followed every girl -everyone was in full uniform, hats, gloves and all! I wondered whether I would get a "Please explain" notice, but I did not feel guilty - well, not very! I had written to the parents a letter which went something like this - "Dear Mrs. So & So, You will know that the government has decreed that Schools must not require uniforms. You must do as you think fit and we will respect your decision." Well, that was fair, wasn't it? But then I went on "BUT you will appreciate that uniforms are much more desirable” …

The restrictions on buildings was much more understandable. Materials were scarce and of course so was manpower. Though we were uncomfortably crowded, we made do. Thankfully the war ended but there were still shortages. In particular we were very crowded in the hall - the very hall we had at Roslyn, so the Council never daunted, found an empty hall in the Shire of Corio, bought it, had it cut in two, and one Saturday morning saw it lumbering up the back drive and deposited on blocks already prepared. That hall, I may say was reputed to have the best dance floor in Geelong and district. It was admittedly not as comfortable as this one. The girls stood for Assembly or sat on the floor, bringing their own chairs on special occasions. There was no permanent curtain. One would be rigged up, and great was the glee of the girls when it fell down at awkward moments. However it served us well for many years and is no doubt, still giving good service. The block in front of it was one of the wartime structures.

At the school, among the first of the buildings was a block of brick classrooms on the west side of the quadrangle. These replaced the old wooden block brought from Roslyn and were made possible by a bequest from Dr. Kennedy, our first Medical Officer. I cannot take time to tell you about him, beyond saying that he was brought up in a girls' school - Clarendon College - which his parents founded in Ballarat. The old wooden block went on its second journey and was placed behind your present library. The Council members were canny Scots and would tolerate no waste, so these rooms were put to various uses and are no doubt merged into the present scheme.

I must leap over the years - twenty or so, during which time other buildings were added. I shall not bore you with details, but mention various additions. The upstairs science room, then the staff room, the canteen, the Herne Hospital (generous gift of the Chairman, Mr. Herne and his wife). I must not forget the Toilet Block, or should we call it the Ablutions Block. That name still haunts me. There has of course been much more development since my day.” …

Councillor James Fidge, His Worship the Mayor of Geelong was one of our small boys - we knew him as Jimmy Fidge. Not long ago I was lunching at a hotel and the Mayor, who was in the same room left his guests and came over to greet me. He had not forgotten he was an "old girl" of Morongo! So we have given Geelong two mayors - our No. 1 pupil Vautin Andrews was another - and also a Lord Mayor of Melbourne. Perhaps there lies a challenge for one among you! …

I have talked so much about buildings, but these are not the real School, however necessary and important. You are the School, those before you, and those to follow. These buildings provide the setting and the equipment for your training, to prepare you in body, mind and spirit, to take your place in the world. So I am not forgetting the important role of the members of Staff, and the part they have played over the long years. Perhaps you do not always appreciate what they are doing for you, or the discipline they impose. Don't forget that such discipline can lead to self-discipline, so necessary in the lives of all of us, whatever age. Sadly there is too little in the world today. As I say, you may not now appreciate all that the School has done for you, but you will. It is heart warming to receive letters from girls acknowledging the debt they owe to the training they received at school. Maybe you are taking for granted, all that you now enjoy at Morongo. I do not blame you for that, so it is good to pause for a time, to stop and think of all the efforts of those who have worked and struggled so hard and given so liberally of time and money for they are all very busy people.

The original founders have gone, but they handed on the torch to succeeding Councils and these have accepted the challenges to ensure that their dream should become a reality, that there should be a girls' school which will take a proud place among the schools of Australia. They are still working hard to this end, still preparing to meet the demands of a changing world - especially in the field of education. And they have had the support of Parents, of Parents Associations and Auxiliaries, of the Old Collegians, of dedicated Staff members, all of whom have combined to give you the benefits you now enjoy. So I hope you understand why, having witnessed the struggles, the generosity of so many, I have come to join with you in paying tribute to all, from Founders onwards, who have
given you your school, have given you Morongo.”




Sources:
Cowperthwaite, D.n 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.
Shaw, L. FOUNDATION DAY ASSEMBLY SPEECH - JUNE 19th 1989 – Miss Lucy Shaw
Warland, P. and Morongo Old Collegians Inc. Morongo Old Collegians: 1920-1995. Morongo Old Collegians Inc, Geelong, Vic, 1995.
Monks, D., Wynd, I. and Black, W. Lucy Shaw: headmistress. Wendy Black, Geelong, Vic, 1998.
Watt, Jeanette. ‘Lucy reveals her secret’. The Echo. 25th of February, 1998, p. 5
MISS LUCY SHAW. (1941, July 2). Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld: 1878 - 1954), p. 8. Retrieved February 16, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56091745
NEW PRINCIPAL FOR P.G.C. (1934, July 28). The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1931 - 1954), p. 14. Retrieved February 16, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35123786

Notes:
Clarendon is now Ballarat Clarendon College (the two schools Ballarat and Clarendon merged in 1974).
Presbyterian Girls College at Glen Osmond in South Australia is now known as Seymour College opened in 1922.
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