BSc, DipEd
At St Margaret’s 1919-1922
(Photo courtesy of Brisbane Girls Grammar School)
Louise McDonald (nee Crooks) attended St Margaret’s Church of England High School for girls where, in 1922, she was school captain, dux and president of the Literary and Debating Society.
After graduating, she studied science at The University of Queensland, a quite remarkable feat as a woman in the mid 1920s. She worked as a student demonstrator in biology at the university. She taught science at St Margaret’s from 1926 to 1938 and at Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School in 1939. That same year she studied a Diploma of Education. In 1940 she commenced as a science teacher at Brisbane Girls’ Grammar School before assuming the position of second-mistress and, in 1952, she took on the role of headmistress.
According to the Australian Dictionary of Biography: “Although Miss Crooks was not a tall woman, she had presence and a reputation for not being intimidated; the students respected her. She encouraged girls to study science, although, at the time, it was not easy to obtain well-qualified, experienced and competent teachers. Facing a major challenge within the board of trustees when she wanted state-of-the-art science laboratories built, with the support of the chairman she persuaded the trustees to apply for Commonwealth government grants. They were successful and new laboratories opened in 1964 and a science block in 1969.”
These science laboratories would undergo a major refurbishment in 2003 at which time they were named in her honour.
During her tenure at Brisbane Girls’ Grammar School, Louise also introduced Houses - a new structure for co-curricular competitions.
Louise was an active member in the Association of Heads of Independent Girls’ Schools in Australia serving as treasurer (1955-58) and as president (1969-71). She also served on the council of Women’s College, The University of Queensland, between 1951 and 1971. Retiring in 1970, she was elected a fellow of the Australian College of Education and made a life member of St Margaret’s Old Girls’ Association.
Acknowledgements: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mcdonald-louise-warden-15068
View all notables