St Catherine's School

A Legacy of Service and Spirit: The Peterson Girls

Thursday 1 October 2009

1928 Tennis Team. Patricia Peterson is in the front row at centre. Autograph page from Margaret Thompson’s book Beautiful example of artwork The Billabong by B Blogg, 1925.

The St Catherine's Archives Centre has a collection of photographs and autograph books donated by sisters Patricia Peterson ('28) and Margaret Thompson (Peterson '30).

Patricia Peterson attended St Catherine's from 1924-1928. Her valete entry records her early talent, as winner of Junior best all round sport in 1924. She was selected for the Baseball and Hockey teams in 1925 to 1928, the Tennis team and Sports Committee in 1927 and 1928 and and was Secretary of the Seamen's Mission Committee in 1928. Pat was a school leader as a Probationer in 1927 and Prefect in her final two years at School.

Pat's sister, Margaret attended St Catherine's from 1923 to 1930 and younger sister, Cynthia attended from 1935 to 1940. Margaret was also a talented sportswoman and a Prefect, Sports Captain and member of the Hockey team. Pat Peterson was so prominent at School that Margaret recalls almost always being referred to as ‘Pat Peterson's sister'.

After leaving School, Pat travelled to Europe and worked as a chauffeur in London. During World War 1 Pat returned to Melbourne and worked in an aircraft factory making parts for the Beaufort Bombers at Fisherman's Bend. After the War Pat worked at the Alice Anderson School of Driving in Kew, Melbourne and after retiring she worked as a Liberal Party organiser in Melbourne and country Victoria.

In 1993 Pat was awarded Citizen of the Year at Malvern Town Hall for outstanding service to the community (she is pictured with Mayor Claude Ullin in January 1993). She was a foundation member of MECWA with whom she volunteered for more than 30 years. She also worked tirelessly for the Malvern Red Cross for 32 years.

Pat is remembered as a bright and energetic person with many friends, interests and a love of life. Pat was a longstanding and active member of the Royal Melbourne Golf Club and was instrumental in the introduction of croquet and she also loved playing bridge.

Pat won the Victorian Schoolgirls Golf Championship in 1928 and a Royal Melbourne Associates Monthly Medal in 1938. This was returned to the Club upon her death in 2002, and subsequently played for in 2003.

Margaret's two daughters, Libby ('58) and Elinor ('66) and granddaughter, Olivia ('00) all attended St Catherine's. Margaret is one of the School's oldest living Old Girls.