Forward July 2015 | Page 15

BRENDA MAZZUCCHELLI mothers appreciated the opportunity to help with the catering. At that time I was not allowed to walk up the staircase with the men. I was escorted up in the lift. How times have changed with political correctness! I would like to finish by telling you about one other special event that for me exemplifies the regard parents had for Guildford Grammar School and the extent to which they were prepared to freely give their time and service to the School. on not over-charging and giving value for money. More value was placed on the service we provided to the School and the camaraderie we shared with our Guildford friends. Completely out of the blue at the end of 1984 I was contacted by Alan Terry, Chairman of the School Council, who asked if he could nominate me for a position on Council. I am embarrassed to say I knew very little about the School Council. I had just been elected as President of the Ladies Auxiliary and was very involved with the Board of Anglican Homes, so I declined Alan’s proposal. He tried to persuade me by saying I would be making history as the first woman to serve as a Fellow of Council. Finally Richard persuaded me to accept the proposal and I thought no one would vote for me so I agreed. What I hadn’t realised at that time was that the process was a matter of straight selection! So began thirteen years of service on Council. I valued the opportunity to serve the School at another level. I was a member of the Works Committee. One of the most memorable things I did was inspect the ceiling of the Chapel between the ceiling and the roof. I will never forget that experience. Looking down into the nave through the small cut out areas in the ceiling and viewing the sanctuary above the curved ceiling. We had the occasional meeting and dinner at the Weld Club. At that time I was not allowed to walk up the staircase with the men. I was escorted up in the lift. How times have changed with political correctness! I suppose my greatest achievement on Council was to chair the Ceremonies Committee for the Centenary of the School. I formed a committee with representation from Senior and Preparatory School parents, staff, Old Boys, Ladies Auxiliary, P & F and past parents. We worked together to organise the launch at Woodbridge, the Ball at Government House, Speech Night at the Concert Hall, the Centenary Blazer and the brooch for women. It had been the tradition, as it is now, to conduct the Speech Night on the Chapel Close. Over the years there had been nights when the weather was threatening and there was the rumble of thunder. However, a few years prior to the Centenary, the rain started shortly after the official party was seated on the stage. Janet Moody ran home and gathered all her umbrellas. We were soaked but John Moody, sheltered by a brave student holding an umbrella, pressed on regardless. It was so funny to watch the response of the school body seated on plastic chairs in front of us. Most ran for cover. Others covered their heads with chairs. Some, including Bishop McDonald and the special guests, braved it out. This was the reason for the change in venue for the Centenary Speech Night. The Chapel is the heart and spiritual life of this Christian school. It has, and always will, play an important part in my life. The school year ended with the Carol Services in the Chapel and the choir was of such a high standard that they were held on three successive nights. In 1979 the Service was recorded and produced in record form. For the duration of the recording the flight path of the planes to the airport was diverted. Imagine that happening today! Every year following the Carol Services, the congregation went to the Dining Hall for supper and here again the Ladies’ Auxiliary excelled. The lights were dimmed and the room lit by candlelight from the tables, which were decorated with holly and ivy. The food was always Lyons fruit cake and homemade shortbread provided by the ladies. It was on occasions such as this that our working The Australian Heads of Independent Schools Association (AHISA) was holding their conference in Perth, hosted by Wesley. A visit to Guildford Grammar School was not on the programme and John Moody desperately wanted the delegates to visit our school. He contacted me and asked if there was any way we could organise the conference dinner. There was a limited budget and to succeed I needed to put in a proposal against Scotch College. They featured a Scottish menu, we featured wildflowers. To keep the price down I rallied past parents to help and they all gave their time willingly. Drinks and savouries were served in the library and the staff room. We had a father cook the main meal, which was served in the Dining Hall and dessert was prepared and served by Kate Lamont in School House. The drinks were organised by past parents Dorham Mann and John Barrett-Lennard. A team of ladies, mainly past mothers, served at tables and young Old Boys were the drink waiters. All areas visited by the guests were decorated with wi