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COFFEE CATCH UP On a beautiful June morning, I had the privilege of spending time with two of our cherished old scholars, Rosemary Henderson (Stacy) (Class of 1948) and her daughter Angela Biven (Henderson) (Class of 1972).
Rosemary laughed as she described the ‘Black Spot’ for misbehaving girls, a place that brought back memories for her. The embarrassment of this experience alone encouraged excellent behaviour.
Rosemary enlightened me with the most incredible stories of a time now passed, so sacred and insightful. The historical pathway of our School was paved out in front of me, with stories during wartime, memories of sports days and bazaars, classroom antics and schoolyard recollections.
The familiarity of Rosemary’s experiences at Wilderness resonated with me. Experiences of care, team spirit, school pride, philanthropy, and respect were evident then, and remain consistent today in our School community. It became apparent that the ethos of Wilderness, and the girls within its embrace, continue to define the School; always consistent, always reliable and “always true” throughout the generations we welcome. Our current school values of respectful relationships, responsible citizenship, adventurous learning, and a true and courageous self, are evident in Rosemary’s stories from years ago.
What amazing history we have had at this beautiful School. Rosemary remembers wartime being a challenging time. She described ‘The Mound’ - it was a bomb shelter on school grounds. Every girl was given an eraser on a string to place between their teeth to protect them from biting their tongues in the instance a bomb went off. Rosemary remembers sports day events on The Running Track, as it is still called. Amongst her favourite events were the slow bike race showcasing a display of balance, and the three-legged race where Shirley Baker and Rosemary won every time. The bazaars were a chance for philanthropy to shine, where girls hosted fundraising events with proceeds going to purchase chopped wood for underprivileged families. Stick jaw toffees were a real treat!
I could not have enjoyed my time with Rosemary and Angela more. This gorgeous family with four generations of Wilderness girls really has experienced the School from its creation with the Misses Brown, through to current day. Rosemary, thank you very much for welcoming me to your home and for helping to keep the history of our School alive through your incredible story sharing. Emma Bishop Old Scholar Liaison Officer
