St Margaret's trophies rediscovered

Sometimes from a small catastrophe, comes a serendipitous occurrence. Last year’s flooding rains resulted in some of the boxes containing ‘old’ trophies being damaged. So, they were brought to the Archive Centre for checking. Many of these trophies once resided in the trophy cabinets in the foyer of our original Sports Hall. Everything needed to be packed away as the building was being demolished to make way for our amazing new Sports Precinct. Those boxes were stored in the basement of the new precinct.

When they were brought up to the Archive Centre, I did not expect to find any treasures, rather some trophies of sports that were no longer played at the school, either at an interhouse or interschool level. At the very bottom of one box, I came across a small collection of very old but heavily tarnished trophies. On closer examination, I found some true treasures. The cost of restoration is quite expensive so they will be restored over a period of years.

One of the trophies was the “Interform Basket Ball Challenge Cup”, presented by Miss Lyon in 1912. Miss Juliet Lyon was our second Headmistress (1907 – 1917). She was born in Australia but received most of her education in Scotland (University of St Andrews) and England (University of Oxford). She received her Diploma of Education First Class Honours and was admitted to the London register of Secondary Teachers. She taught at Oxford Secondary School and was Assistant Mistress at Toorak College Melbourne for 18 months. Miss Lyon was a keen oarswoman and introduced rowing to St Margaret’s in 1907, coaching the girls herself! Miss Lyon steered the school through World War I in which, tragically, her brother was killed.

Another is the “St Margaret’s Church of England High School Inter-Form Relay Race”, presented by Mrs Edwyn M. Lilley in 1923. Little is known about the Lilley’s family association with St Margaret’s. Mr Edwyn Lilley was a prominent citizen of Brisbane and the son of one of the then Chief Justices of Queensland. One of their daughters would go on to be Headmistress at BGGS. Another cup was presented by Mrs Charlton for “House Activities” in 1927. Several Charlton girls attended St. Margaret’s – Ida, Joyce and Cecily.

 Ms Mary Surtees
Archivist