Eleanor Christie (née Read)

I enjoyed the relaxed style of learning at this school. There were no uniforms, neat and tidy street dress and colourful smocks to keep our clothes clean.

I liked the terminal tests and yearly public exams as I felt the stress was less often.

Miss Gladys Good was headmistress and, as it was a small school, she knew all the students individually.

English was important. We followed the PEB Intermediate set text books in first year. In second year Miss Mary Harris involved us in a more relaxed style of English and creative writing. One book we read, The Ladies of Cranford, we also gave as a dramatic production at the School of Art Drama Night. Miss Good wrote and produced a play called The Maze which was very humorous. Miss Harris also developed in us a love for the history of art.

A singing lesson weekly was for the whole school. At an Art School concert in the Teachers College Hall in Kintore Avenue, in 1940, the Girls Central Art School girls dressed as gypsies for their Hungarian item.

Miss Casely was my favourite teacher as she introduced us to the free expression movement in art. She was a lovely lady, also teaching us design, needlework and craft work.

It was here I came in contact with male teachers. I especially remember Allan Sierp who specialised in lettering and show card writing – I had a special interest in illuminating.

Wartime. Gradually the Exhibition Building, our school, was taken over by the RAAF and 1942 saw the Girls Central Art School moved around in an unsettling way, via Twin Street, to eventually settle on North Terrace near John Martins for the duration.

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