Perth Modern School Museum

Volunteers in the Museum had the pleasure of meeting Ralph Bilsby's whose Mum, Margaret Isabel Johnson, attended Perth Modern School from 1929 to 1933. Ralph is pictured holding his Mum’s 1933 Prefect badge with Museum volunteers Roger Stubbs, Bob Johnson and Dr Robyn White. We thank Ralph for donating his Mum’s 1933 Prefect badge.

Margaret was the Sphinx School Editor and School Prefect in 1933. When Margaret gained her scholarship to attend Mod her Dad was the Principal at Esperance Primary School. Margaret attained her Bachelor of Arts from the University of WA and taught at Wiluna Primary School and Highgate Infants School.

Margaret (Peg) and Harry married in 1945 and had three sons, Ralph (1946), Chris (1948) and Ian (1951) along with nine grandchildren. Peg and Harry lived in Collie from 1946 to 1961 and moved to Bunbury in 1961 when Harry was retrenched from the mining industry. They spent the remainder of their lives living and working in Bunbury whilst enjoying a happy retirement from 1976 until their passing in 2005 (Peg) and 2008 (Harry). Peg did return to her passion of teaching whilst in Bunbury and spent some time at St Joseph's Convent and Cooinda Primary School prior to retirement.

Margaret's brother, Bill Johnson also attended Perth Modern School from 1933-1937 and according to the Perth Modern School, The History and the Heritage book he was "the driving force behind the formation of the Sphinx Foundation in 1996.” More on Bill in a future post.

Please note the Museum is closed during school holidays. We will be back working and welcoming all in term 2.

We just love this story 🥰♥️ We did a search in our collection data base and found a picture of Gordon from the December 1933 Sphinx - he played in the Perth Modern School 1st XI. 😄🏏 You can see that picture in the comments on this Post.

Verbiage below was used in the Perth Modern School's Facebook post.

MODERNIANS - 90 YEARS APART - CONNECTED THROUGH A NATIONAL INTERGENERATIONAL ARTS INITIATIVE

Year 12 student Benedict Widjaja was selected to participate in Western Australia's rendition of the 'Centenarian Project by Teenagers', an arts initiative by embraced.com.au which saw teenage artists creating portraits of WA's Centenarians, culminating in an exhibition held at Wilkinson Gallery in December 2022.

Benedict was paired with Modernian Gordon Ewers, who attended the School from 1929-1933, graduating 90 years ago! At 107-years-old, Gordon is the oldest man in WA and the third oldest in Australia!

As part of the project, spanning a few months, Benedict visited Gordon at his home in Brightwater Madeley, as well as Joondalup Hospital when he was in rehabilitation.

Benedict said - "Getting to know each other was easy, due to our shared Modernian identity, and many other shared interests, such as music, literature, travel and Christianity."

Upon their first meeting, they were already making music together, with Benedict on the piano, and Gordon with his voice!
Gordon told Benedict: "You can never make me look pretty, but you can make me look happy."

Benedict's finished portrait of Gordon certainly made him look happy! The portrait's background features some of Gordon's hand written poetry.

Public education in Western Australia

Vale Dr June Stephenson (nee McLeod), student 1948-52

June Stephenson “A proud Perth Modernian who lived her life on her own terms. June was a determined and effective educator, forthright in her commentary on people and events and a wonderful friend. She is already missed. Robyn, Loren and Perth Modernian Society Museum volunteers.” - The West Australian, Saturday February 11, 2023

June was a very significant supporter and friend of the Museum. An amazing life. So much passion and determination. Very much an inspiration and someone we will never forget. Thank you June.

As well as an educator June was also a talented tennis player and sports women. Pictures from The Sphinx and a news clipping from Trove from the 1950's are included in this post.

You can also read more about June and her remarkable life in the Perth Modernian Society Newsletter or Perth Modern School News via the following links:
https://www.perthmoderniansociety.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Perth-Modernian-Society-Newsletter-February-2023.pdf
https://www.perthmodern.wa.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/PerthModernSchool-news-Oct2018_w.pdf

We are really looking forward to seeing and meeting the Class of 1973 for their 50th reunion. 😊

We will be preparing a display featuring their years at Perth Modern School using materials sourced from our archives.

If you know of anyone who may have been part of the Class of 1973 please reach out to Brett or Julia.

A new jarrah honour board recognising students of Perth Modern School who died while serving Australia in conflicts since WW2 was commissioned. This honour board will be displayed in Beasley Building with the other honour boards.

Flight Lieutenant Ron Offord (PMS 1951-52) died when the engine of his Sabre jet cut out as he was taking off from the RAAF’s base at Butterworth in Malaya on 11/9/62
Sapper Alan Duncuff (1961-63) was killed while attempting to clear an explosive device in Saigon on 25/10/69
Private Edward Hards (1960-61) died of illness in Repatriation General Hospital in Hollywood on 2/8/69 soon after returning from Vietnam
Flight Lieutenant Robert Hayes (1947-48) died at Pearce RAAF base on 17/7/69 from an accident after returning from Vietnam
Second Lieutenant Brian Jones (1963-65) was killed in South Vietnam on 10/4/71 when searching for an enemy bunker system

LEST WE FORGET

For more information please see our Digital Honour Board and Nominal Roll https://honour.perthmodern.wa.edu.au/

Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia WA Branch Inc. Vietnam Veterans Virtual War Memorial Australia Australian War Memorial National Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association

We are really looking forward to seeing and meeting the Class of 1963 for their 60th reunion. 😊

We will be preparing a display featuring their years at Perth Modern School using materials sourced from our archives.

If you know of anyone who may have been part of the Class of 1963 please reach out to Mary-Jane.

Also don't forget we are open tomorrow (9.30 to midday) and every Monday morning during school term. 😃

Perth Modern School | Home | Savoir C'est Pouvoir Located in Subiaco, an inner city suburb of Perth, Western Australia.Perth Modern School is an academically selective co-educational public high school. The school was established in 1911 and caters for students with high academic ability.

From Our Archives – Flashback to the 1990’s.

School crossing diligently manned by Theo Jardine on Roberts Road, Subiaco.

Can anyone help in identifying the students who appeared with Mr Jardine from the POST Newspapers in the 1990’s?

Do you have any memories or stories from your time at Mod involving Theo Jardine or another Traffic Warden?

Perth Modern School: Class of 1992