The life of a PLC schoolgirl

First were the lovely girls, mostly from outlying farms within reach of Armidale on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. A few came from Sydney and the majority were boarders… kind and curious about this new girl who had been on ‘the other side’ during the recent World War.

Soon, however, all this was left behind as I got more skilful at hitting a ball with an object; learnt to dance the Scottish Highland Reel (three of us in tartan kilts and a soprano on the stage of the Armidale Town Hall, where we even did the famous Sword Dance); and trained for the Bronze Medal in swimming. Sadly, we never got to the medal stage as there was an outbreak of polio in Armidale, and the public pool was closed for the rest of the time I was there.