Meriden School
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- For other places of the same name, see Meriden (disambiguation).
| Meriden, An Anglican School for Girls | |
|---|---|
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| Semper Fidelis "Always Faithful" |
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| Established | 1897 |
| School Type | Independent, Single-sex, Day school |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Slogan | "Inspiring young minds" |
| Key People | Dr Julie Greenhalgh (Principal) Mrs Jane Monckton (Founder) Ms. J.H.H Blackman AO (Chairman) Reverend Vanessa Bennett (Chaplain) |
| School Fees | AU$10,960–18,363 p.a[1] |
| Location | Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia  |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Enrolment | ~850 (PK–12) |
| Colours | Blue and White |
| Homepage | www.meriden.nsw.edu.au |
Meriden, An Anglican School for Girls is an independent, Anglican, day school for girls, located in Strathfield, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Founded in 1897 by Mrs Jane Monckton, the school has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently caters for approximately 850 students from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12.
Meriden is affiliated with the Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools (AHIGS),[2] the Alliance of Girls Schools Australia,[3] the Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA),[4] and the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA).[5]
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[edit] History
Meriden was founded by Jane (Jeannie) Monckton in 1897, at Agnes Street, Strathfield. Monckton had decided to home school her two sons due to a lack of suitable educational facilities for boys in the Strathfield area. Friends and neighbours clamoured to have their children join the two boys under her instruction, and so it was decided to establish Meriden, a school with approximately 19 students and two staff to assist. Boarding facilities were available and fees for tuition were from 1 ½ guineas ($3.15) to 2 guineas per quarter for the regular curriculum, which included English, French, Latin, Mathematics, Australian History, Music, Needlework and Dancing.[6]
In 1907, Meriden moved to Woodward Avenue, where it was sold to Bertha Turner in 1908. Turner continued at Woodward avenue until larger premises could be found near Santa Sabina College on the Boulevarde, moving again soon after to its current location in the original Redmire Estate, on Redmyre Road. The school expanded in 1914 with the purchase two properties, The Briars, located adjacent to Meriden, and the original site at Redmyre Road.[6]
In 1918, following the 1916 changes to Department of Education requirements, Turner approached the Sydney Church of England Girls' Grammar School (S.C.E.G.G.S) in Darlinghurst with the concept of amalgamation. Further negotiations were however prevented due to financial commitments, and the S.C.E.G.G.S council suggested that a group of local church people might be interested.[6] The first school uniform and the school logo were introduced in 1921, and in 1922 the Meriden flag was presented by the Old Girls' Union.[6]
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, of 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. This property was eventually purchased by Meriden.[6]
After Turner's death, Grace Overy 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.[6]
In 1942, Meriden temporarily became the home of two schools as the Presbyterian Ladies' College (P.L.C), from the nearby suburb of Croydon, was occupied by the Royal Australian Air Force for the purpose of establishing a top secret Radar Unit. Meriden offered to accommodate the P.L.C boarders and the school's singing, domestic science, and physical education classes. In spite of the apparent happy relationship between the two schools, the P.L.C Principal, recommended that further integration between the two school's should not proceed, and thus at the end of 1924, Meriden indicated that they could no longer house the P.L.C boarders.[7]
In 1979, as with numerous other schools at the time, Meriden closed its boarding facility due to a steady decline in enrolments.[8]
[edit] Principals
| Period | Details[2] |
|---|---|
| 1897 – 1908 | Mrs Jeannie Monckton, Founder |
| 1908 – 1925 | Miss Bertha Turner |
| 1926 – 1940 | Miss Grace Overy |
| 1941 – 1957 | Miss Elsie Hannam |
| 1958 | Acting Principal – Miss Eleanor Colborn |
| 1959 – 1961 | Miss Evelyn James |
| 1961 – 1965 | Miss Joy Fox |
| 1966 – 1984 | Miss Sheila Morton |
| 1985 – 2002 | Mrs Denise Thomas |
| 2003 – 2006 | Mrs Carolyn Blanden |
| 2006 | Acting Principal – Mrs Denise Thomas |
| 2007 – Present | Dr Julie Greenhalgh |
[edit] 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 (transalted 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.[9]
[edit] House system
Meriden school currently has four houses:
- Cumberland
- Kent
- Sussex
- Warwick
Through the house system, students participate in inter-house sporting and non-sporting competitions in order to gain points for their house. The house with the most points at the end of the school years is awarded the Wallis Cup.[10]
[edit] Notable alumnae
- Academic
- Silma Ihram – Muslim Advocate, Founder of the Noor Al Houda Islamic College (also attended Presbyterian Ladies' College)
- Linda Sophie Rosenman – Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Region) at Victoria University, Australia; Recipient of the Centenary Medal 2003 (also attended SCEGGS Darlinghurst)[11]
- Business
- Julia Marion King (née Moufarrige) – Director of Opera Australia; Current Director of Servcorp Ltd, Fairfax Media, and Carla Zampatti Pty Ltd; Former Chief Executive of Louis Vuitton Australia, Executive Chair of Retail Cube, Country Road Clothing, Australian National Railways etc (also attended SCEGGS Darlinghurst)[12]
- Entertainment, media and the arts
- Desmonde Florence Downing – Stage designer[13]
- Kellie Hoggart – Member of Australia's Hi5 group
- Chrissie Rose – Former co-host of defunct television program Girl TV (also attended Presbyterian Ladies' College, MLC School and Reddam House)
- Nadia Wheatley – Writer
- Medicine and science
- John Nelson Sevier – Physician (also attended Sydney Church of England Grammar School)[14]
- Politics, public service and the law
- Jennifer Hergest Harley Blackman AO – Acting Judge of the District Court of New South Wales (1996–99); Part-time Judicial Member of the Admin. Decisions Tribunal NSW 1998–99; Barr-at-Law NSW (1970–2004), Barr Tasmania (1997), Northern Territory (1987), Western Australia (1986) and Australian Capital Territory (1971); Recipient of the Women Lawyers' Association Prize[15]
- Naomi Kate Wynn Wilson (née Wynn Jones) – Director of Mining Industrial Marine Sales and Services, Spectrum Counselling, and Sheridan Meadows Child Care; Qld Minister for Families, Youth and Community Care (1998), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Families Youth and Community Care (1996–97), Member of the Legislative Assembly (National Party) for Mulgrave (Qld) (1995–98)[16]
- Sport
- Danielle LeRay – Olympic Rhythmic Gymnast
[edit] Associated schools
Meriden's 'brother school' is Trinity Grammar School at Summer Hill, an Anglican Day and Boarding School for Boys.
[edit] References
- ^ Fees Schedule 2008. Enrolment Information. Meriden School. Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
- ^ a b Heads of New South Wales Independent Girls' Schools. AHIGS. The Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools (2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
- ^ Butler, Jan (2006). Member Schools. Members. The Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia. Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
- ^ JSHAA New South Wales Directory of Members. New South Wales Branch. Junior School Heads' Association of Australia (2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
- ^ AHISA Schools. New South Wales. Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (November 2007). Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
- ^ a b c d e f Cook, Anne (1997). Visions of Parnassus: Meriden's first 100 years. Meriden Council, Meriden School, (Strathfield). ISBN.
- ^ McFarlane, John (1988). The Golden Hope: Presbyterian Ladies' College, 1888-1988. P.L.C Council, Presbyterian Ladies' College Sydney, (Croydon). ISBN 0-9597340-1-5.
- ^ Meriden School Strategic Plan 2007 (accessed:08-08-2007)
- ^ Meriden: The Crest and Motto (accessed:21-06-2007)
- ^ Meriden School: House System (accessed:12-06-2007)
- ^ "ROSENMAN Linda Sophie". Who's Who in Australia Live!. (2006-11-17). Ed. Suzannah Pearce. North Melbourne, Vic: Crown Content Pty Ltd. Retrieved on 2007-09-26.
- ^ "KING Julia Marion". Who's Who in Australia Live!. (2006-11-17). Ed. Suzannah Pearce. North Melbourne, Vic: Crown Content Pty Ltd. Retrieved on 2007-09-26.
- ^ Australian Dictionary of Biography: Downing, Desmonde Florence (1920-1975) (accessed:27-07-2007)
- ^ Royal Australasian College of Physicians: Sevier, John Nelson (accessed:27-07-2007)
- ^ "BLACKMAN Jennifer Hergest Harley". Who's Who in Australia Live!. (2006-11-17). Ed. Suzannah Pearce. North Melbourne, Vic: Crown Content Pty Ltd. Retrieved on 2007-09-26.
- ^ "WILSON Naomi Kate Wynn". Who's Who in Australia Live!. (2006-11-17). Ed. Suzannah Pearce. North Melbourne, Vic: Crown Content Pty Ltd. Retrieved on 2007-09-26.
[edit] Further reading
- Cook, A. 1997. Visions of Parnassus: Meriden's first 100 years. Meriden Council, Meriden School.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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