Wednesday 13May 2009
Our guest speakers were:
- Deborah Ng National Youth Science Forum
- Eve Dutton Reminisces of a Boarder at Meriden in the 1930’s
Deborah was introduced by President Grahame. Deborah attended the NYSF which took place at the Australian National University in January 2009. The NYSF ran for two weeks and was attended by young people from Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Deborah was pleased to meet a lot of students with similar interests.
Deborah was able to hear from scientists working in the “real world” on scientific endeavours such as:
- Combating cancer
- Monitoring tissue in the brain
- The analysis of specimens in hospitals
- The 27 Km particle accelerator in Europe.
Deborah was able to get hands on experience in:
- Dealing with specimens under a microscope
- Investigating DNA samples
- Investigating electrical impulses in the brain.
Deborah was able to speak to people attending university about their courses and their aspirations.
Deborah also enjoyed the social activities which included:
- A swim at the local water hole
- A disco
- A family get together at the home of a Rotarian host.
Deborah enjoyed the NYSF and found that it opened her eyes to what science has to offer as a career.
Deborah was thanked by Peter Smith
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Eve was introduced by President Grahame. Eve described her experiences as a boarder at Meriden in the 1930’s.
Each morning the girls had to strip their beds. When the girls made their beds later in the day they had to be very meticulous.
The girls would do thirty minutes of exercises each day. The food they were given was nutritious but not fancy. Eve recollects that the food was surprisingly good given that it was the years of the Great Depression. Eve became a tea drinker at age seven.
Each day the girls would play till 5-30 pm and then change for dinner. After dinner they would go to “the bungalow” where they would learn dance steps. At 7-00 pm they would go to their dormitories to go to bed. “Lights out” was always too early.
Eve also confided in us some of her misdemeanours such as getting lemons off the lemon tree and drinking the juice, sliding down the banisters and escaping down the fire escape one night and doing a “streak”.
For recreation the girls would:
- Go for picnics and bushwalking on Saturdays
- Catch a tram and go for a swim at the Bronte pool
- If it was wet go to Burwood Cinema and watch a suitable movie.
On Sundays the girls would attend St Anne’s church. Each would wear their hat and gloves and take their prayer book and a coin for the plate. After church the girls were expected to stay indoors and to be quiet.
In conclusion Eve noted that Meriden ceased taking boarders in 1973. Eve was thanked by President Grahame.
