Edna Matthews (née Franklin)

Having received the Qualifying Certificate my parents decided, after careful consideration, to enrol me at Goodwood Central School. I attended for three years.

Being depression years there would have been sacrifices by my parents to keep me at school for that period. At that time I had an older sister at Adelaide High School and a younger brother was later a pupil at Urrbrae Agricultural High School. I have always appreciated their co-operation and interest.

This school was nearest to my home at Darlington. I rode my bike two miles each way and travelled by train to Goodwood. Often strong north winds of a morning and gully winds of an evening. I carried not only books but cooking ingredients and craft materials – even table tops for wood staining. The table has had many admirers and is still in our own home in use today.

Craft subjects had a much greater appeal than general ones as my report showed. In third year, 1936, my results for drawing, applied art, dressmaking, cooking, laundering, home management and spelling were excellent. I was noted for my ‘earnest application’ to my work and gained the Grade X Certificate with two credits.

For arts and crafts classes I was privileged to have a Miss Mona Green, later Mrs Pearce. She was a much gifted tutor who not only made painting and craft work interesting but was able to develop students’ interests with the least talent. Encouragement meant so much. Our assemblies were held in the Goodwood Methodist Church Hall. Miss Green was a good pianist and we were taught popular songs of the era. It was interesting to meet Mrs Pearce when her husband was on the staff at the Yorketown Primary School in 1946.

In domestic arts classes we were mostly instructed by a Miss Maschmedt. She was talented no doubt in demonstrating cooking and we were taught the proper use of both electric and gas ovens and not only the art of cooking but to present meals in an attractive appetising manner. One occasion, I happened to be mixing dough with my hands and I am still able to hear Miss Maschmedt say, ‘Get those dirty maulers out of it.’ We were also instructed in the purchase of suitable dinner ware and this was appreciated in later life. Along with other students I participated in cooking competitions with other schools in an Adelaide Exhibition. We took home our ‘cookies’ which were very popular with male students travelling home by train. I daresay the guards sampled some too! I doubt if many ‘cookies’ ever reached home.

Dressmaking instruction was given mostly by Miss Doris Lewis, also a very talented teacher, but sadly she didn’t show much interest in students not showing talents in this direction. We received instruction in the use of both treadle and electric sewing machines. Time was spent drafting patterns and cutting out materials. We made our own blouses – serge tunics – yes, with inverted pleats and school blazers, complete with monograms on pockets – Goodwood Girls Central School – GGCS – neatly embroidered.

We had marks given periodically for general appearance of uniforms. Occasionally there was a spot inspection. One girl had 12 safety pins in the hem of a tunic! I met Miss Lewis years after leaving school. In the meantime I’d married and had my three year old son with me. Miss Lewis said, ‘Did you make your son’s outfit?’ and was congratulated on my sewing effort. This was a surprise to me as I thought I was hated for my lack of talent especially as in class I remember her holding up a garment I’d been sewing. Miss Lewis’ statement was, ‘Looks as if you have had this under your mattress all night.’

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