Meriden School
Meriden School | |
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Junior School Heads Association of Australia | |
Brother school | Trinity Grammar School |
Website | www |
Meriden, An Anglican School for Girls is an
Founded in 1897 by Jane Monckton, the school has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently caters for approximately 1650 students from early learning, through Year K to Year 12.
Meriden is affiliated with the
History
Administratively operating as an Australian company limited by guarantee since 17 March 1997, Meriden was founded by Jane (Jeannie) Monckton in 1897, at Agnes Street, Strathfield. Monckton had decided to
In 1918, following the 1916 changes to
As Turner's health deteriorated, there was a suspicion that the school might close, and subsequently, a group of local people met to discuss the future of Meriden. It was agreed that a Council should manage the school, and debentures were sold in order to obtain the necessary finance. The original home, Wariora, which was owned by Turner, was not included in this transfer but remained her property. On her death, Wariora was transferred to her brother, who sold it on to the gardener and his wife, who in turn ran it as a boarding house. Wariora was eventually purchased by Meriden[5] and was extended to include the school tuck shop. This building has since been demolished.[7]
After Turner's death, Grace Ovary was appointed by the Council as the new Headmistress. In 1927, sports practice was carried out at the cow pastures in the grounds of a ruined mansion named Milroy in Broughton Road, Strathfield. The end of this decade saw a growing and profitable school.[5]
In 1936, extensive additions were made to the school with the erection of Wallis Hall, seating 450 people. The new building, designed by
In 1961, a grand face brick Edwardian style mansion, Selbourne facing Redmyre Road, became part of the extended school campus. It housed domestic staff for the boarding house students until it was demolished in 1978 for sports grounds.[5] Originally known by different spelling, Selborne, the house was the family home of George A. Wilson, chairman of the Public Service Board of NSW until the death of his wife Philippa Marion Wilson in 1900.[9] Selbourne became the home of the Walsord family in the first two decades of the 1900s[10] and became the Earwaker family home in the 1927.[11]
According to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission, Meriden School was formally registered on 6 March 1929.
In 1942, Meriden temporarily became the home of two schools as the
In 1957, Meriden purchased Wadham Preparatory School an independent day, co-educational, preparatory school located at 9–11 Wallis Avenue, Strathfield. The school had been established in 1943 by Kathleen Wyndham. The site was used as a sub-primary campus principally for girls, but also for nursery and kindergarten boys. In 1967 Meriden closed the Wadham campus having purchased land for its entire junior school in Redmyre Road, Strathfield.[13] After its closure, the building was demolished and two large 1970s style face-brick houses now stand in its place.
In 1979, as with numerous other schools at the time, Meriden closed its boarding facility due to a steady decline in enrolments.[14]
In 1997, Meriden became an Australia public company with its own board of directors. Although not under the formal organisational structure of the Anglican Church, Meriden emphasises an Anglican ethos. Meriden has been granted exemption from using the designator "Limited" (Ref: Australian Securities and Investment Commission, Document 005320905).
In 2015, a major construction project commenced at Meriden, involving an expansion for enlarged school grounds, the renovation of the school's Turner House wing, the construction of a new two-level sport centre with rooftop courts, and the renovation of the school's Wallis building for an improved library, hall and Year 12 common room.
Principals
Period | Details[1] |
---|---|
1897–1908 | Jeannie Monckton, Founder |
1908–1925 | Bertha Turner |
1926–1940 | Grace Overy |
1941–1957 | Elsie Hannam |
1958 | Acting Principal – Eleanor Colborne |
1959–1961 | Evelyn James |
1961–1965 | Joy Fox |
1966–1984 | Sheila Morton (dec'd. 7 August 2012)[15] |
1985–2002 | Denise Thomas |
2003–2006 | Carolyn Blanden |
2006 | Acting Principal – Denise Thomas |
2007–2022 | Dr Julie Greenhalgh |
2023 | Mrs Lisa Brown |
School crest
Meriden's crest was designed by the school's art teacher, Mr Albert Collins, in 1921. The crest features Meriden's motto of Semper fidelis (translated from Latin as "always faithful"), together with a representation of the lilies of Parnassus. In ancient Greece, Mount Parnassus was regarded as the mountain sacred to the muses and the centre of the earth. The muses were said to preside over the realm of learning, with each having a special province, such as poetry, science or history.[16]
House system
Meriden School's original house system was established in 1931 by the headmistress at the time, Miss Overy, who named the houses after English counties. The original four houses were:
- Warwick (Yellow)
- Cumberland (Blue)
- Kent (Green)
- Sussex (Red)
In 2014, two more houses were introduced to meet the need for improved house-based pastoral care. In line with tradition, the new houses were named after English counties that are famous for their universities.[17] The two new houses were:
- Oxford (Orange)
- Durham (Purple)
Each year, students in each house are to vote for their new Year 11 house leaders – the House Captain who is supported by the Service Officer, Arts Officer and Sports Officer. Through the house system, students participate in inter-house competitions in order to gain points for their house. Competitions include the Athletics Carnival, Swimming Carnival, House Choral Competition, House Arts Competition, Inter-house Sport Competition and Inter-house Maths Competition. The house with the most points at the end of the school year is awarded the Wallis Cup.[18]
Associated schools
Meriden's brother school is Trinity Grammar School at Summer Hill, an Anglican day school for boys.[19]
Old Girls
This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. (July 2022) |
Education and community
- Helen Halse Rogers OBE – social worker and chair of Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales[20]
- Silma Ihram – education pioneer
- AM – lecturer, critic and editor in children's literature[21] and president of the Australian section of the International Board on Books for Young People IBBY Australia.[22]
- Sally Ruston AM – Head of Junior School Abbotsleigh
- Rev Catherine Wynn Jones – Royal Australian Navy Chaplain and former Vice Chairman of Meriden School Council[23]
Entertainment, media and the arts
- Sally Ayre-Smith – producer of SeaChange[24]
- Harriet Ayre-Smith – actress and former Chanel publicist[25]
- Kellie Crawford – singer and actress, Teen Queens and Hi-5[28]
- Patti Crocker – actress and author of Radio Days[29]
- Barbara Davidson – printmaker who specialised in etching[30]
- Desmonde Downing – stage designer[31]
- Helen Kenny – literary editor of the Sydney Morning Herald[32]
- Sarah Monahan – actress on Hey Dad..![33]
- Vlogger, actress, comedian and writer, known by the handle communitychannel[34]
- Nadia Wheatley – writer, journalist[35]
- Claire McCarthy – screenwriter, director, producer, and visual artist
Law
- AO – Lawyer and former Sex Discrimination Commissioner[36]
- Jennifer Blackman
- Shirley Chowdhary – Lawyer and CEO of the GO Foundation[39]
Medicine & science
- Professor Elizabeth McCusker OAM – neurologist in the field of Huntington's disease[40]
- Pauline Taylor (née Larcombe) – Zoologist[41] and wife of actor Frank Taylor[42]
Government and politics
- Elaine Cassidy – former mayor[43]
- OAM – teacher and activist[44]
- OAM – former mayor[45]
- Anne Aly – Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives[46]
- Catherine West – Labour Party member of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom[47]
- Joan, Lady Cutler – (the second wife of Sir Roden Cutler) also attended St Catherine's School, Waverley[48]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Heads of New South Wales Independent Girls' Schools". AHIGS. The Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools. 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2007.
- ^ Butler, Jan (2006). "Member Schools". Members. The Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2007.
- ^ "JSHAA New South Wales Directory of Members". New South Wales Branch. Junior School Heads' Association of Australia. 2007. Archived from the original on 17 January 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2007.
- ^ "AHISA Schools". New South Wales. Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia. November 2007. Archived from the original on 2 November 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g Cook, Anne (1997). Visions of Parnassus: Meriden's first 100 years. Meriden Council, Meriden School, (Strathfield). ISBN.
- ^ Foster, A. G. (Arthur G.) (1920), Meriden, Church of England school for girls, Redmyre Road, Strathfield, N.S.W, retrieved 6 May 2019
- ^ Foster, A. G. (1920), Exterior view of Meriden Annexe, Strathfield, retrieved 6 May 2019
- ^ "ADDITIONS TO SCHOOL". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 10 December 1935. p. 6. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ^ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 19, 318. New South Wales, Australia. 10 February 1900. p. 1. Retrieved 26 June 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 20, 093. New South Wales, Australia. 4 August 1902. p. 1. Retrieved 6 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- The Brisbane Courier. No. 21, 807. Queensland, Australia. 17 December 1927. p. 24. Retrieved 6 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- ISBN 0-9597340-1-5.
- ^ Heritage Impact Statement. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ Meriden School Strategic Plan 2007 Archived 29 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine (accessed:08-08-2007)
- ^ SMH Deaths Retrieved 17 August 2012
- ^ Meriden: The Crest and Motto (accessed:21-06-2007)
- ^ https://ecentral.meriden.nsw.edu.au/Publications/2013%20News%20Letters/Issue%2013%20Term%203%202014.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ Meriden School: House System (accessed:12-06-2007)
- ^ Meriden website – Partner Schools Retrieved 16 June 2018.
- ^ Builder of welfare's foundations Retrieved 9 July 2022.
- ^ Paper empires: a history of the book in Australia 1946-2005 By Craig Munro, Robyn Sheahan-Bright
- ^ Australian Section of IBBY
- ^ Anglicare Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ Producer of SeaChange Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ Belle Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ ABC Books Retrieved 18 November 2014.
- ^ Meriden Press Release Archived 3 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- ^ LinkedIn Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ "Reliving the golden days of radio in Australia". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 20 January 1990. p. 20. Retrieved 12 January 2020 – via Trove.
- ^ 'Historical reference' book by Barbara Abbott Retrieved 19 May 2022.
- ^ Desmonde Florence Downing 1920-1975 stage designer Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ Helen Kenny (nee Frizell) former literary editor of the Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ IMDb
- ^ "Distinguished Achievers List – Tran, Eva to Trevithick, Holly Amber". New South Wales Board of Studies.
- ^ Timetoast Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- ^ Keenan, Catherine (4 March 2011). "Meet Elizabeth Broderick, the woman who can walk into any boardroom and strike a deal". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- ^ It's an honour
- ^ Australian Women Lawyers as ACTIVE CITIZENS Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ Shirley Chowdhary LLB 1994 Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ Professor Elizabeth McCusker OAM Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Tadpole Given Thyroid Diet". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Vol. IX, no. 178. New South Wales, Australia. 27 October 1944. p. 7. Retrieved 6 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "TV actors to open Gunning show". The Canberra Times. Vol. 48, no. 13, 672. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 16 February 1974. p. 3. Retrieved 6 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Cassidy, Derek (16 April 2014). "Elaine Cassidy: Mayor was a champion bridge player". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
- ^ "Tribute to Betty Davy, OAM". Parliament of New South Wales. 22 September 2010. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
- ^ Sydney Morning Herald 15 December 1937 Retrieved 13 August 2014
- ^ [Counter-terrorism expert Anne Aly: 'I dream of a future in which I'm no longer needed' https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/counterterrorism-expert-anne-aly-is-australias-first-federal-female-muslim-mp-20161117-gsreyp.html] Retrieved 15 July 2021.
- ^ How an Australian expat may help topple a British Prime Minister Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ McCullough, Colleen, 1937-2015 (2001), Roden Cutler, V.C. : the biography / Colleen McCullough, Random House Australia
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Further reading
- Cook, A. 1997. Visions of Parnassus: Meriden's first 100 years. Meriden Council, Meriden School.