History of St Faith's School
A most important undertaking by the Anglican Diocese of Rockhampton was the founding of St Faith's School for Girls at Yeppoon in 1923. Mount Stewart, the 53 acre property of Mr J.C. Stewart, MLA, in the hills on Adelaide Park Road, on the outskirts of Yeppoon, was the site chosen by Bishop Crick.
St Faith's buildings consisted of the homestead and outbuildings already on site, as well as buildings formerly used at St Paul's Hostel in Rockhampton, that were moved to Yeppoon. As well, considerable additions and improvements were made. Work was still going on when the first students arrived to begin school in February 1923 and some classes were held outdoors under the mango trees.
A Brief History of St Faith's School - PDF file (25KB approx)
Memorabilia
Donation of Hymn Board
We were very lucky to be contacted by Mr Peter Holt after he saw our press release in the Morning Bulletin. He was in possession of the Hymn Board from the Chapel and has kindly donated it to us so that it can be incorporated in the new St Faith's Chapel which will be included in the Keppel Parish church to be built at Lammermoor Beach. (See photo right)
Return of the School Roll
After the close of the School in 1968, a disposal sale of furniture and equipment was held onsite. A family friend of a past pupil, Helen Green, nee Hewitt, purchased a chest of drawers, which he found, much to his surprise, held the School Roll Book. He knew that Helen had been a past pupil and gave the book to her. Helen in turn placed it with the other memorabilia. Luckily it fell into the hands of someone who knew a past pupil, or it could have been lost forever.
Memories of Old School Days
Memory from Doreen Rand (nee Jackson)
One night a week we were all lined up in Matron's office and given liquor ice powder! If she wasn't looking we would throw it out the window!
We had cold showers, both summer and winter, and in winter the grass on the terrace was like little white sticks with frost.
Other memories are of the mournful and frightening sounds of the curlews at night.
Memory from Meg Aspinall (nee Perrers)
At Barcaldine, Norma's hot water system. During the winter months, an old wood stove with the top missing was placed under the water pipe outside the bathroom complex. Norma tended the fire with the water valve shut off and when she considered it hot enough, released the valve and we were all ready as she cried "GO" and scalding water poured forth! Unhappily, Norma, by the time she ran upstairs and undressed and got to the shower, usually had a "cold" shower! Barcaldine was very cold in winter, and the usually warm bore water was cold also!
Memory and Information from Freda Neill (nee Gibson) 1954
The lesson we enjoyed most was Divinity with Mr Tollach, not, alas, for his spiritual guidance, but for the way he used to shout and thump the desk and blackboard. I remember when two girls ran away to Rockhampton and were brought back by the police. Also the time when some of the senior girls, while attending a swimming carnival at 'Bugland', invited several of the boys to a midnight feast in the grounds of St Faith's, which duly took place without anyone finding out! Some spoilsport at 'Bugland', however, spilled the beans to the 'head' who wrote to our 'head' asking her to keep a better eye on her girls. There was a most tremendous uproar and all the beds were brought down from Carlton and somehow fitted into upstairs!
The Queen visited Rockhampton that year, and we all went up on the train shouting 'Faith poon! Faith poon! out of the carriage windows at rival schools. We were marched to the Town Hall by the teachers. My mother, Miss Turvey and Miss Dwyer found a packing case to stand on for a better view, not realizing that a group of rowdies were standing behind them who, as the Queen appeared, pinched their legs and bottoms, their indignant screams being drowned out by the cheers for the Queen.
List of Teachers and Domestic Staff from 1954
| Teachers | |
|---|---|
| Miss Eunice Gilmore | Headmistress |
| Miss Dwyer | Senior teacher |
| Miss Morrish | 3rd Form |
| Miss Greenhow | Primary |
| Miss Murray | Primary |
| Miss Scott | School Secretary, Shorthand and Typing |
| Mrs. Edna Gibson | Music |
| Miss Betty Turvey | Music |
| Mr Hodges | Bookeeping |
| Mr Tollach | Divinity |
| Mr Holliu | Tennis |
| Domestic Staff | |
|---|---|
| Matron | Miss Madge |
| Housekeeper | Miss Butterworth |
| Cook | Mrs. Watson |
| Maids | Jean, Lorna, Doris, Rita, Joan, Marion |
A Menu from 1954
| Monday | |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | Porridge, spaghetti on toast, tea, bread and butter. |
| Dinner | Stew, apple crumble and custard |
| Tea | Bread and butter, banana, tea. |
| Tuesday | |
| Breakfast | Porridge, cats' meat (some sort of tinned meat?) with toast,bread and butter, tea |
| Dinner | Corned beef, potato, pumpkin, blancmange with apricots. |
| Tea | Sausage rolls, pawpaw, bread and butter, tea. |
| Wednesday | |
| Breakfast | Porridge, sausages with gravy, bread and butter, tea. |
| Dinner | Curry and rice, potato and pumpkin, apple pie, custard |
| Tea | Bread and butter, banana, tea. |
| Thursday | |
| Breakfast | Porridge, toast with sliced sausages in gravy, bread and butter, tea. |
| Dinner | Rissoles, potato, peas, rice pudding |
| Tea | Bread and butter, banana |
| Friday | |
| Breakfast | Wheetabix, spaghetti on toast, bread and butter, tea |
| Dinner | Fish, potato, peas, apple crumble and custard |
| Tea | Bread and butter, peanut paste, tea |
| Saturday | |
| Breakfast | Cornflakes, cats' meat with gravy |
| Dinner | Stew with vegetables, Drainpipes (macaroni) with custard |
| Tea | Bread, butter and jam, banana, tea |
| Sunday | |
| Breakfast | Wheetbix, egg on toast, bread and butter, tea |
| Dinner | Beef, potato, peas, fruit salad and custard |
| Tea | Pineapple, bread butter and jam cakes. |
For more memories click here. (PDF file 90Kb approx)
School Houses
The House Notes which appeared in the Echos reflect how that system of organization fostered not only conformity, compliance and competition, but excellence and service in all aspects of school life.
Basic Facts About Each House
Crick House
Colours: Dark blue and light blue
Motto: Altiora petimus - (We seek higher things)
Named for: Rt Revd PCT Crick, Bishop 1921-1927
War Cry
"Crick house, Crack House, here we all are,
Altiora Petimus, Altior-a-ah
Light Blue, dark blue,
Gindi Gindi Gah"
Halford House
Colours: Green
Motto: Garde-Ta-Foi - (Guard thy Faith)
Named for: Rt Revd GD Halford, Bishop 1909-1920
War Cry
"Halford Halford Garde - Ta - Foi
Barme, Barme, Rah Rah
Woorumburra Woorumburra, Yah Yah
Goorah, Yoorah, Yah Yah Yah"
Ash House
Colours: Dark Brown and Silver
Motto: Die tat ist alles nichts der ruhm - (The deed is everything, the fame nothing)
Named for: Rt Revd FL Ash, Bishop 1928-1946
War Cry
"Ash House, Ash House, Girri Goori Ya,
Nigger Nigger Brown Rah Tah Tah
Karri Tikki Wongaburra
Karri Tikki Boo
Die that ist alles nichts der ruhm"
School Songs
School Hymn
St Faith's School Hymn was sung on special occasions and during communion.
I bind unto myself today
the strong name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One and One in Three.
I bind this day to me for ever,
by power of faith, Christ's incarnation,
his baptism in the Jordan river,
his death on cross for my salvation;
his bursting from the spicèd tomb,
his riding up the heavenly way,
his coming at the day of doom,
I bind unto myself today.
I bind unto myself today
the virtues of the starlit heaven,
the glorious sun's life-giving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free,
the whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
the stable earth, the deep salt sea
around the old eternal rocks.
I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
his eye to watch, his might to stay, his ear to hearken to my need,
the wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide, his shield to ward,
the word of God to give me speech,
his heavenly host to be my guard.
Against the demon snares of sin,
the vice that gives temptation force,
the natural lusts that war within,
the hostile men that mar my course -
or few of many, far or nigh,
in every place, and in all hours,
against their fierce hostility
I bind to me these holy powers.
Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
against false words of heresy,
against the knowledge that defiles,
against the heart's idolatry,
against the wizard's evil craft,
against the death-wound and the burning,
the choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
protect me, Christ, till thy returning.
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself the name,
the strong name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One and One in Three,
of whom all nature hath creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word.
Praise to the Lord of my salvation:
salvation is of Christ the Lord.
Amen.
Hymns for Church Service
Each term our first Service always began with the following:
Lord behold us with thy blessing,
Once again assembled here:
Onward be our footsteps pressing,
In thy love and faith and fear:
Still protect us ever near.
For thy mercy we adore thee,
For this rest upon our way:
Lord, again we bow before thee
Speed our Labours Day by Day:
Mind and Spirit
With the choicest gifts array.
... and ended with ...
Lord, Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing
Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing
Thanks for mercies past receive
Pardon all, their faults confessing,
Time that's lost may all retrieve;
May thy children
Ne'er again thy Spirit grieve.
Bless Thou all our days of leisure,
Help us selfish lures to flee
Sanctify our every pleasure,
Pure and blameless may it be.
May our gladness
Draw us evermore to Thee.
By Thy kindly influence cherish
All the good we have gained,
May all taint of evil perish
By Thy mightier power restrained.
Seek we ever
Knowledge pure and love unfeigned.
Let Thy father-hand be shielding
All who here shall meet no more,
May their seed-time past be yielding
Year by year a richer store.
Those returning
Make more faithful than before.
The music is in a Book "Songs of Redemption"
Historical Photos
Click on an image for a larger view
People
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Buildings
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Echo's
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Autographs
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