Stories From The Archives

The Performing Arts precinct is named in honour of Miss Dorothy Pizzey AM, who was Principal at St Catherine’s School from 1977 to 1997. The honour was well deserved. She was an outstanding Principal in many ways, leaving a strong legacy. Under Miss Pizzey’s leadership and around a time where schools were rather insular, St Catherine’s had a stable cohort of teaching staff. Miss Pizzey’s highly trained background and broad career experience had a positive influence on the academic success which still continues to this day. Miss Pizzey was also passionate about providing girls with an international perspective. In the 1980s, our student trips took in locations like Central Australia, Europe, China and later Japan. An international club was established to welcome girls from other countries on exchange. Country exchanges included France, Belgium, Germany, Japan and England. This was not the norm at the time amongst schools but remains the norm at St Catherine’s to this day. Miss Pizzey was also a strong supporter of boarding school. In the 1960s and 1970s, school after school closed their boarding schools. Not Miss Pizzey. She understood that, when they closed a boarding house, a piece of the school’s heart closed with them. She saw the School’s Boarding House as a bridge between total care of home and a world that requires personal responsibility and sensitivity in relationships. Boarders possess their School in a different way to today’s students. Sciences were also a focus. Miss Pizzey established an Astronomy Club in 1983, with students viewing planets and constellations and attending lunchtime theory lessons. Just over 10 years later, Miss Pizzey hosted St Catherine’s first astronaut-inresidence Dr Rhea Seddon, who visited for 10 days. This accomplished female astronaut worked with science

CentreDOROTHY PIZZEY Middle School Musicale rehearsal in the Dorothy Pizzey Centre, 1987 School Vice-Captain Olivia Withers, School Captain Fleur McKay, Dr Rhea Seddon – astronaut-in-residence and Principal Ms Dorothy Pizzey, 1994

Boarding, 1984

Mikado Performance in the Dorothy Pizzey Centre, 1980

classes in the science wing on satellite imaging and other topics. An observatory was constructed and a satellite dish was installed in readiness for her visit. At the 1994 speech night, our astronaut-in-residence spoke to the parents and student body. She spoke of her time as a young girl and as an astronaut-in-waiting. She said: “Amidst all the fun and excitement of my life, there have been moments of fear. One can’t have watched the Challenger explosion and not be aware of the risk involved in riding on top of a rocket. I found myself a little over a year ago, sitting through church service worrying about such things… The hymn at the end of the service that Sunday really touched me and I wrote it down on an index card. I carried the card on my kneeboard several weeks later as I was strapped into the Space Shuttle Columbia… It is an old Methodist song and it goes: And God will raise you up on an eagle’s wings, Bear you on the breath of dawn, Make you shine like the sun, And hold you in the palm of his hand. I can’t tell you how much comfort that gave me – to understand that

Duke of Edinburgh in the 1990s Japan Tour in the 1980s some greater power was watching over my journey and keeping me safe.

So I, along with your teachers and families and all who watch you rocket into a higher orbit of life, hope that you will be borne on the eagle’s wings – and that God will hold each of you in the palm of his hand.” With people like that passing through your orbit, you stand a little taller. Miss Pizzey left a legacy for St Catherine’s that remains strong to this day.

Mr John Steven Past Parent & Council Member

An occasional award is given to a Year 12 student who has made an outstanding contribution to the sporting life of St Catherine’s School at an elite level. The award was named in honour of Margaret Woodlock, who competed in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics in Shot Put whilst a student at St Catherine’s. She was Captain of the School in 1956, receiving awards for Sport, Music and Service to the School. She was Victorian Shot Put Champion 1956-1962, Australian Champion 1957-1962 and was a Gold Medallist at the World Master Games 2002. “Victoria’s unexpected ‘find’ in the shot put, 18 year old Margaret Woodlock, wears her red and black Frankston athletic outfit under her St Catherine’s uniform when going to training... Margaret has never competed in a State championship and until a few weeks ago belonged to no athletic club. She then found she had to join to compete in State competitions run by the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association. As she lives at Seaford, she joined Frankston Club. This freckled, wavy haired youngster is school captain at St Catherine’s and captain of the baseball team. Because

When selected for the 1956 Olympics squad as an 18-year-old schoolgirl, The Age newspaper reported it in the 20 September 1956 edition: of this, she plays baseball on Tuesdays and Thursdays and trains for the shotput on Mondays and Wednesdays. As there is no dressing room available at Olympic Park, where she trains, she wears her athletic outfit under her St Catherine’s uniform.” AwardMARGARET WOODLOCK Margaret Woodlock, School Captain Margaret Woodlock and Vice-Captain Elizabeth Stokes, 1956 1956 Olympic Games

Margaret Woodlock throwing the dicus in 1955

Students playing baseball in the 1960s

Margaret’s main interest was javelin throwing. She practised the shot put only because she felt it would help her in the javelin. Her interest in both these sports started six years before the 1956 Olympic Games, when St Catherine’s was one of the first girls’ schools to introduce javelin and discus throwing into the Sports program. She had no training until she attended the national fitness classes conducted by Coach Franz Stampfl at Christmas time. He was impressed by her javelin throw, so she decided to take coaching from him. She said “although he thought I might be good enough for the Olympic team in 1960, no one considered I’d come up to form for this year. I still can’t believe it’s really happened... Actually, the Olympic Games period is supposed to be my swot vac for matriculation, so I’ll miss out on that completely. Most of my study is done in the train.” She was a very busy student, leaving home at 7am to get to School on time. Margaret came 12th in the 1956 Olympic shot put event – 12th in the world. The 2020 pandemic created significant challenges for our Senior School girls, including those in Years 11 and 12 studying for their VCE. With the final VCE exams approaching, 50 past School Captains penned words of encouragement to them, including Margaret Woodlock. This is what Margaret said: “In 1956 when I was selected in the Olympic Team, the publicity and media attention was relentless. Franz (my coach) took me aside and said: “Always keep your family and friends close – for they are your support group, and will be the only ones there for you when all this is over.” He was absolutely right. The same is true during this pandemic. I grew up as a small child in WWII – five years of curfew at sundown, total blackout in the streets, food rationing and clothes rationing. We came through it all together by observing the restrictions and supporting one another. Be patient – these difficult times do not last, all will be well. As the Monty Python song says, “Always look on the bright side of life”.

Everything will be okay – be patient, stay safe and well.” Sage words from a Year 12 student of 60 plus years ago to our students of today. The strength of the St Catherine’s community never wanes.

Mr John Steven Past Parent & Council Member