At the Old Bathurstians’ Reunion Dinner in Dubbo last weekend, there were many ‘Old Boys’ in attendance, and some had not seen each other for over 50 years since leaving school. In addition, there were a few Marsden ‘Old Girls’ who came, and much of the conversation was about being a boarder during Miss Glover’s (Aunty Marg) headship some 50 years ago!
Some snippets of the conversations:
Do you remember when we had to walk in crocodile formation to Holy Trinity Church dressed in our white church dresses with white gloves and panama hats on Sunday afternoon? Chapel was twice a day, except Saturday morning and on Sunday, girls were given one shilling to put on the plate. Some believed they received the same shilling each Sunday, so they attempted to mark it to check!
On Laundry day, we had to put our clothes out on our beds with clothing lined up so the Housemistress could count how many items (underwear in particular) to make sure it was named and uniform! No lacy underwear allowed! Uniform hems had to be a certain level and checked when kneeling. The sports tunic was so well starched it could stand up on its own! Bombay Bloomers were worn at all times when wearing the uniform.
What about when Miss Glover rang the little bell at the dining table to tell one girl to take her feet off the rungs of the chair, or to keep the noise down, or to eat the soup correctly using the spoon tipped away from the face? Or the time when Miss Glover admonished the whole school after she saw one of ‘her girls’ in town without her gloves on or eating an ice cream in the street!
Every meal was started with the Marsden Grace-said or sung. The evening when there was fresh bread, there was great enthusiasm, except the little knob of butter did not go far enough! Edgells Factory supplied many of the vegetables especially asparagus and peas. The girls were encouraged to finish everything on their plates-some found it very hard, especially the Lamb’s Fry and bacon or dessert of Frog’s Eyes!
Rest afternoon on Sundays was when the girls could write letters or read, but there was no talking in the dormitory. Letters left unopened except to one’s parents and there was a list of approved persons with whom one could correspond. Every evening, the girls would line up to say goodnight to Miss Glover or the duty mistress.
Life as a boarder in those times may seem harsh by today’s standards but all agreed they were some of the best times as well.
Miss Glover was feared but fair and respected by all of ‘her girls’.
Mrs Memory Sanders
All Saints’ and Marsden Archives
