New England Girls' School
Encyclopedia
The New England Girls' School (NEGS), is an independent
, Anglican, day
and boarding school
for girls, located in Armidale
, a rural city in northern New South Wales
, Australia
.
Established in 1895 by Florence Emily Green, NEGS is a non-selective school
, and currently caters for approximately 310 students from Pre-Preparatory (4 years old) to Year 12 (18 years old), including 140 boarders from Years 5 to 12.
NEGS is affiliated with the Association of Independent Schools of New South Wales (AIS NSW), the Junior School Heads Association of Australia
(JSHAA), the Australian Boarding Schools' Association (ABSA), the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia (AGSA), and is an affiliate member of the Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools
(AHIGS). NEGS Limited in its capacity as Trustee administers the school on behalf of the Anglican Diocese of Armidale
.
, New Zealand
. The aim of the school was to provide an all-round education for girls, with a strong emphasis on Christian values, in order to prepare students for the challenges of the new century. The schools first building was named 'Akaroa', and contained a large classroom, an office and boarding facilities. Today the building is the school’s administration centre, with the original classroom now used for meetings and functions, and named the 'W.H Lee Room' after the school’s architect.
Under Miss Green's guidance NEGS became one of the largest girls' boarding schools in Australia. In 1907, NEGS was purchased by the Anglican diocese and a school Council was appointed. Miss Green subsequently moved to Victoria
in 1908 to act as caretaker headmistress to Firbank Church of England Girls' Grammar School
, in Brighton
.
NEGS' first brick building, later known as "Northern and Southern", was opened in 1911. This building contained an assembly hall, gymnasium and boarding facilities.
In 2006, due to financial difficulty and falling enrolments, the Armidale Diocesan Council announced that NEGS was to be sold to the Presbyterian Church
and would be merged with the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Armidale
. A Save NEGS group was immediately formed by the Parents and Friends Association, the NEGS Old Girls Union and members of the community in order to campaign against the sale of the school, and formulate an alternative plan. On 19 October 2006, the Anglican Diocese of Armidale accepted the proposal submitted by the group, the $4 million funding of which was underwritten by John Cassidy
, Chancellor
of the University of New England
. It was agreed that a company limited by guarantee, known as NEGS Limited would acquire the school and operate it as an independent Anglican school, with Mr Cassidy as Chairman of a new interim Board, thus preventing the sale of NEGS.
, in a rural environment. The school is located in the city of Armidale, situated midway between Sydney and Brisbane on the New England Tablelands
of New South Wales.
Some notable current facilities of the college include:
's mitre
symbolising the power of the Holy Spirit, and the authority of the Church. On the shield itself, three figures are depicted:
All three together are drawn from the final verse of the school Bible reading:
Beneath the shield is the school motto
, Quodcumque facitis ex animo operamini, based on Colossians 3:23, which may be translated as "Whatsoever you do, do it heartily".
In the coeducational junior school, students study English, Mathematics, HSIE, PDHPE and technology with their classroom teachers. The also learn languages (German, French or Latin), Music, Drama and Art from specialist teachers in the senior school.
Girls in the senior school have the opportunity to develop their interests through taking additional study units and their class choices. Girls select a language to learn in year eight, two elective subjects in year nine (choosing from Art, Music, Drama, French, Japanese or Design and Technology) and may change one of these subjects at the beginning of year ten. In years eleven and twelve classes are also offered at Vocational Education Training (VET), the Armidale Combined Schools Program and the Open High School in order to allow girls to further pursue their interests and prepare for tertiary education and their chosen careers.
, the NEGS Old Girls' Union (NEGSOGU). Some notable NEGS Old Girls include:
Academic
Entertainment, media and the arts
Medicine and science
Sport
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
, Anglican, day
Day school
A day school—as opposed to a boarding school—is an institution where children are given educational instruction during the day and after which children/teens return to their homes...
and boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
for girls, located in Armidale
Armidale, New South Wales
Armidale is a city in the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia. Armidale Dumaresq Shire had a population of 19,485 people according to the 2006 census. It is the administrative centre for the Northern Tablelands region...
, a rural city in northern New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Established in 1895 by Florence Emily Green, NEGS is a non-selective school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
, and currently caters for approximately 310 students from Pre-Preparatory (4 years old) to Year 12 (18 years old), including 140 boarders from Years 5 to 12.
NEGS is affiliated with the Association of Independent Schools of New South Wales (AIS NSW), the Junior School Heads Association of Australia
Junior School Heads Association of Australia
The Independent Primary School Heads of Australia formerly Junior School Heads Association of Australia , is an incorporated body representing the heads of independent primary schools in Australia....
(JSHAA), the Australian Boarding Schools' Association (ABSA), the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia (AGSA), and is an affiliate member of the Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools
Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools
The Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools , is an association for private girls' schools, based in North Ryde, in the Northern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
(AHIGS). NEGS Limited in its capacity as Trustee administers the school on behalf of the Anglican Diocese of Armidale
Anglican Diocese of Armidale
The Anglican Diocese of Armidale is a diocese of the Anglican Church of Australia, located in the state of New South Wales. The diocese was created in 1914 as a result of a division of the previous Diocese of Grafton and Armidale which was created by letters patent in 1863...
.
History
The New England Girls' School was founded in 1895, by Florence Emily Green, a deeply religious educator from OamaruOamaru
Oamaru , the largest town in North Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand, is the main town in the Waitaki District. It is 80 kilometres south of Timaru and 120 kilometres north of Dunedin, on the Pacific coast, and State Highway 1 and the railway Main South Line connects it to both...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The aim of the school was to provide an all-round education for girls, with a strong emphasis on Christian values, in order to prepare students for the challenges of the new century. The schools first building was named 'Akaroa', and contained a large classroom, an office and boarding facilities. Today the building is the school’s administration centre, with the original classroom now used for meetings and functions, and named the 'W.H Lee Room' after the school’s architect.
Under Miss Green's guidance NEGS became one of the largest girls' boarding schools in Australia. In 1907, NEGS was purchased by the Anglican diocese and a school Council was appointed. Miss Green subsequently moved to Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in 1908 to act as caretaker headmistress to Firbank Church of England Girls' Grammar School
Firbank Girls' Grammar School
Firbank Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school, situated in the suburb of Brighton, in the bayside area of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
, in Brighton
Brighton, Victoria
Brighton is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 11 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Bayside. At the 2006 Census, Brighton had a population of 20,651...
.
NEGS' first brick building, later known as "Northern and Southern", was opened in 1911. This building contained an assembly hall, gymnasium and boarding facilities.
In 2006, due to financial difficulty and falling enrolments, the Armidale Diocesan Council announced that NEGS was to be sold to the Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Church of Australia
The Presbyterian Church of Australia is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Australia. .-Beginnings:...
and would be merged with the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Armidale
Presbyterian Ladies' College, Armidale
The Presbyterian Ladies' College, Armidale is an independent, Presbyterian, day and boarding school for girls. The school is located in Armidale, a large rural town with a population of 28,000 in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia.PLC Armidale currently caters for approximately...
. A Save NEGS group was immediately formed by the Parents and Friends Association, the NEGS Old Girls Union and members of the community in order to campaign against the sale of the school, and formulate an alternative plan. On 19 October 2006, the Anglican Diocese of Armidale accepted the proposal submitted by the group, the $4 million funding of which was underwritten by John Cassidy
John Cassidy (university chancellor)
John Marcus Cassidy AO, Australian engineer and pastoralist, was the sixth Chancellor of the University of New England, serving from 2004 until 2008....
, Chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
of the University of New England
University of New England, Australia
The University of New England is an Australian public university with approximately 18,000 higher education students. Its original and main campus is located in the city of Armidale in northern New South Wales....
. It was agreed that a company limited by guarantee, known as NEGS Limited would acquire the school and operate it as an independent Anglican school, with Mr Cassidy as Chairman of a new interim Board, thus preventing the sale of NEGS.
Principals
| Period | Details |
|---|---|
| 1895 – 1907 | Miss Florence Green, Founder |
| 1907 | Miss May Bird |
| 1907 – 1913 | Miss Margaret Murray |
| 1913 – 1917 | Miss Clarinda Murray |
| 1918 – 1925 | Miss Juliet Lyon |
| 1925 – 1939 | Miss Nona Dumolo |
| 1939 – 1959 | Miss Ethel Colebrook |
| 1959 – 1969 | Miss Loyalty Howard |
| 1969 – 1972 | Miss Yvonne Grubb |
| 1973 – 1989 | Dr Jan Milburn |
| 1990 – 2000 | Mrs Anna Abbott |
| 2000 – 2004 | Mrs Helen Trebilcock |
| 2004 – | Mrs Denise Thomas, Interim Head |
| 2004 – 2006 | Dr Rebecca Ling |
| 2007 – 2009 | Mr Mark Harrison |
| 2009 – present | Mr Ian Downs |
Campus
The New England Girls' School is situated on over 50 hectares (124 acre) of landscaped gardens and parklandAspen parkland
Aspen parkland refers to a very large area of transitional biome between prairie and boreal forest in two sections; the Peace River Country of northwestern Alberta crossing the border into British Columbia, and a much larger area stretching from central Alberta, all across central Saskatchewan to...
, in a rural environment. The school is located in the city of Armidale, situated midway between Sydney and Brisbane on the New England Tablelands
New England (Australia)
New England or New England North West is the name given to a generally undefined region about 60 kilometres inland, that includes the Northern Tablelands and the North West Slopes regions in the north of the state of New South Wales, Australia.-History:The region has been occupied by Indigenous...
of New South Wales.
Some notable current facilities of the college include:
- The NEGS Multi-Purpose Centre with gymnasium facilities
- The Aytoun Young Resource Centre
- Arts and Crafts complex
- Outdoor swimming pool
- All-weather tennis courts
- Several sports ovals
- Indoor and outdoor netball and basketball courts
- Hockey field
- Indoor and outdoor Equestrian arenas
- Equestrian cross-country course
- Polocrosse field
- Computer laboratories
- Library
- Four Boarding Houses
- Health Centre
- Chapel of St Michael and All Angels
Badge
The New England Girls' School badge was designed shortly after the opening of the school, and is highly symbolic. The badge colours of scarlet and sky were chosen by Miss Green to be the official school colours. The shield of the badge is surmounted by the BishopBishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
's mitre
Mitre
The mitre , also spelled miter, is a type of headwear now known as the traditional, ceremonial head-dress of bishops and certain abbots in the Roman Catholic Church, as well as in the Anglican Communion, some Lutheran churches, and also bishops and certain other clergy in the Eastern Orthodox...
symbolising the power of the Holy Spirit, and the authority of the Church. On the shield itself, three figures are depicted:
- The seated lady is CharityCharity (virtue)In Christian theology charity, or love , means an unlimited loving-kindness toward all others.The term should not be confused with the more restricted modern use of the word charity to mean benevolent giving.- Caritas: altruistic love :...
or Mother LoveMother LoveMother Love is an American entertainer. From 1998 to 2000, she was the original host of Forgive or Forget. In addition, she has hosted on radio in Los Angeles radio stations KLSX, KACE FM, and a show on KFI. She came from Cleveland OH radio. She also appeared in such films as Volcano, Mr. Nanny and...
. - The doveDovePigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerines. In general terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably...
is HopeHopeHope is the emotional state which promotes the belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. It is the "feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best" or the act of "look[ing] forward to with desire and reasonable confidence" or...
, while the olive branchOlive branchThe olive branch in Western culture, derived from the customs of Ancient Greece, symbolizes peace or victory and was worn by brides.-Ancient Greece and Rome:...
represents PeacePeacePeace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
. - The open BibleBibleThe Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
on the Cross represents FaithFaithFaith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
.
All three together are drawn from the final verse of the school Bible reading:
Beneath the shield is the school motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
, Quodcumque facitis ex animo operamini, based on Colossians 3:23, which may be translated as "Whatsoever you do, do it heartily".
Coursework
All pupils at NEGS follow the NSW academic curriculum, completing numeracy and literacy tests in junior school, the NSW School Certificate in year ten and the NSW Higher School Certificate in year twelve. Senior school students are also tested in all of their subjects at the middle and end of each academic year, allowing classes in English and Mathematics to be streamed according to ability.In the coeducational junior school, students study English, Mathematics, HSIE, PDHPE and technology with their classroom teachers. The also learn languages (German, French or Latin), Music, Drama and Art from specialist teachers in the senior school.
Girls in the senior school have the opportunity to develop their interests through taking additional study units and their class choices. Girls select a language to learn in year eight, two elective subjects in year nine (choosing from Art, Music, Drama, French, Japanese or Design and Technology) and may change one of these subjects at the beginning of year ten. In years eleven and twelve classes are also offered at Vocational Education Training (VET), the Armidale Combined Schools Program and the Open High School in order to allow girls to further pursue their interests and prepare for tertiary education and their chosen careers.
Boarding
NEGS has four boarding houses - Kirkwood, Dickens, White and Saumarez - to accommodate its many boarders. Boarders from years five to 10 share a room with girls from their own year group and all girls in years eleven and twelve have their own private room. In year twelve, girls move into Saumarez House, the senior boarding house allows girls to concentrate on their studies without the distraction of younger years and gives the girls more freedom with later bedtimes and more opportunities to visit town. Throughout their time at NEGS most girls will experience boarding in some way, either as a full boarder, part time boarder or a casual stay. Boarding enhances the community feeling of the school and is a fun and friendly experience at NEGS.Notable alumnae
Alumnae of NEGS are known as Old Girls and may elect to join the schools alumni associationAlumni association
An alumni association is an association of graduates or, more broadly, of former students. In the United Kingdom and the United States, alumni of universities, colleges, schools , fraternities, and sororities often form groups with alumni from the same organisation...
, the NEGS Old Girls' Union (NEGSOGU). Some notable NEGS Old Girls include:
Academic
- Dame Bridget Margaret OgilvieBridget OgilvieDame Bridget Margaret Ogilvie, AC, DBE, FRS is an Australian and British scientist.Ogilvie was born in 1938 at Glen Innes, New South Wales, Australia, to John Ogilvie and Margaret Beryl McRae...
ACOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
DBE – ScientistScientistA scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
; Visiting ProfessorProfessorA professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the University College LondonUniversity College LondonUniversity College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London... - Deborah Eileen Ralston – Pro Vice-Chancellor (Engagement), at the University of CanberraUniversity of CanberraOver the years the Stone Day program has gradually become larger and larger, taking up a whole week and now Stonefest is one of Australia's most popular music festivals. The first foundation celebrations were held in 1971. In 1973 Stone Day celebrations were held over two days, which was expanded...
; Professor of FinanceFinance"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
; Sunshine CoastSunshine Coast, QueenslandThe Sunshine Coast is an urban area in South East Queensland, north of the state capital of Brisbane on the Pacific Ocean coastline. Although it does not have a central business district, by population it ranks as the 10th largest metropolis in Australia and the third largest in...
Outstanding Business Woman of the Year 2002
Entertainment, media and the arts
- Barbara Mary Vernon – Playwright
- Judith WrightJudith WrightJudith Arundell Wright was an Australian poet, environmentalist and campaigner for Aboriginal land rights.-Biography:...
– Australian Poet and author
Medicine and science
- Ursula Hope McConnelUrsula McConnelUrsula Hope McConnel was a Queensland anthropologist and ethnographer best remembered for her work with, and the records she made of the Wik Mungkan people of Cape York Peninsula....
– Anthropologist
Sport
- Edwina Jane Kennedy – GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er; First and only Australian to win the British Ladies Amateur Golf ChampionshipBritish Ladies Amateur Golf ChampionshipThe British Ladies Amateur Golf Championship was founded in 1893 by the Ladies' Golf Union of Great Britain. Until the dawn of the professional era in 1976, it was the most important golf tournament for women in Great Britain and would eventually begin to draw golfers from continental Europe...
(1978)