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September is the month to commemorate at SGHS. In 1953, a tree was planted to commemorate the founding of the school. The principal at the time was Louise Woodhouse and the school captain was Margaret Webb. To celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the school in September 2003, another tree was planted by the principal Noel Bishop with the aid of Margaret Pople (née Webb). Click here to see the first plaque and Margaret.

On 19 September this year a plaque was unveiled for each of these trees. Margaret did the honours for the first tree and Noel Bishop for the second. We are very grateful to Margaret for coming all the way from Port Macquarie for the occasion. We have Monica Foggin (née Harvey) to thank for obtaining the tree plaques for the FSSA. Click here to see the second plaque and Noel Bishop unveiling it.

Noelene Doney (née Edmond) was very disappointed at the 50 year celebrations to find there was no portrait of Louise Woodhouse at the school. The FSSA took up her idea and thanks to the efforts of Elaine Norton (née Algie) and her husband John, we were able to hang a portrait of the founding headmistress of SGHS on the wall above the doors to the hall. Bruce Woodhouse, grandson of our Louise Woodhouse, dedicated this gift to the school from the FSSA. Noel Bishop accepted our gift, saying that the school is always seen as belonging to Louise Woodhouse so that all other principals are caretakers striving to keep up her standards. Click here to see the portrait on the wall.

Bruce Woodhouse unveiling the portrait.

We are very grateful to Noelene for instigating and donating towards, the acquisition of such a portrait, and for coming all the way from Tottenham for the day, as well as bringing her aunt, Marie Robey (née Preston) who was a student at HIHS in the late thirties when Mrs Woodhouse was headmistress there.

This commemorative morning was organised by Deirdre Turner and Margaret Boucher, and was attended by 18 people, welcomed by Monica Foggin, our president. After the presentations we enjoyed morning tea and reminisced. Bruce had also brought two exercise books filled with notes by his grandmother from her university student days about 90 years ago. Click here to see the books.

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Belinda Noonan from the Strathfield Scene newspaper attended the morning and placed an extensive writeup with pictures in the October issue. Click here to see some of us enjoying the morning tea.

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