b'Ellen was elected as President of the Womens Graduate ClubSo find your schools stories that are buried in the past and and it was here that the female students could talk freely, cookdiscover the role models and mentors who will not only fascinate up their snacks of toast and offer support to each other.Theyyourstudentsbutprovideevidenceofyourschoolsown held meetings, debates and social activities including an annualidentity. Everyone loves hearing a story and when it can be told dinner.with truth, an understanding of the time and with conviction, Althoughtheuniversitywasco-educational,upuntilthethen it is a very powerful aspect of marketing. A treasure trove 1920smenandwomentendedtospendtheirtimeintheirof stories is waiting.own company. The male staff members were known to hold gatherings referred to as Smokers Dinners, where they would all smoke as a way of keeping out the women who were simply not welcomed.Ellen then took up smoking, perhaps a show to the men that she would not be intimidated.WhenEllenbecameHeadmistressofWalfordsheboldly introduced the girls to the study of Science, Botany, Physiology and Mathematics.She would take them on field trips into the hills and in their long skirts they would gather specimens to bring back to school to examine under her one microscope. Walford Anglican School for Girls - present dayToday, the school treasures her botanical collection and study notes preserved from that time. Her students were motivated tofollowinherfootstepsaspioneersinuniversityscience. The first girl to obtain a scholarship to the university, pursuing a Bachelor of Science (just like her Headmistress) and then Master of Science in 1931 was a student named Jean Murray. By1935onlyfourwomenhadgraduatedwithaMasterof Science from Adelaide University and two of them were Walford girls, a legacy of Ellens teaching. Sadly Ellen did not live long enough to see her students achieve such remarkable success as her life was cut short at the age of 46 years by complications followingsurgery.However,theDNAofWalfordhadbeen established and the study of STEM subjects has thrived.This year 60% of students who graduated in Year 12 gained entry to university in STEM related fields.ThenamingoftheEllenBenhamScienceCentrehasbeen inspirational to the students who have been fascinated by the story of her life and the challenges she faced and difference in times for women. A plaque which relates her story is enjoyed by old scholars and visitors who are excited by her achievements, determination and resilience, over 100 years ago.But this is just one of the many stories of extraordinary women who devoted their lives to the education of girls and young women at Walford. How proud they would be if they could only see their school today.They would love to see the opportunities that they created for alumni to break the glass ceiling in so many careers so that our girls of today can be leaders in all fields of endeavour.KARIN DUNSFORD DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WALFORD ANGLICAN SCHOOL FOR GIRLSDECEMBER 2019 4 5'