ST HILDA’S NOW AND THEN
St Hilda’s School in Southport has long been renowned for helping young women to achieve excellence in their chosen fields
FOR more than 100 years St Hilda’s School has helped educate young women on the Gold Coast by providing a nurturing learning environment.
The school in Southport offers the “highest standards in teaching, boarding and pastoral care” and is renowned as one of the city’s top private schools.
Its story began in 1882 when Helena Davenport bought Davenport St land and built Goyte-Lea schoolhouse.
The school officially became St Hilda’s in 1912.
The school had 56 boarders and 23 day girls in its first three years in operation.
Today, more than 1200 students are enrolled from prepreparatory to Year 12, 185 of those as boarders.
This year, Dr Julie Wilson Reynolds became the school’s 10th principal.
“We all know we stand on the shoulders of those who go before us,” Dr Wilson Reynolds said of the school’s rich history.
“St Hilda was a woman of energy, someone devoted to encouraging others particularly in learning and culture. What a great place to begin.”
Dr Wilson Reynolds is a champion for girls’ education knowing it gives young women a safe environment to develop the skills and attitudes to help them to think deeply, solve problems, connect with others, and contribute positively to society.
“I am so proud St Hilda’s is a school that embraces a future focused on educational vision for every girl,” Dr Wilson Reynolds said.
“Our staff and girls have experienced the power of technology to reimagine the classroom. The most astute leaders in our society understand that an active engagement with science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics – STEAM – lies at the heart of innovation.”
In October, St Hilda’s School unveiled a new facility dedicated to Junior STEAM activities, which provide girls in primary years with learning spaces that are adaptable and open, inviting innovation and collaboration.
The facility is stocked with computer boards, 3D printers, laser cutting machines and drones, and allows girls flexible areas to practice coding, robotics and design activities.
The motto for St Hilda’s School is “Non Nobis Solum” which is Latin for “not for ourselves alone”, which Dr Wilson Reynolds believes is a valuable life lesson.
“There is evidence to show that having a focus on others and being able to understand a bigger picture can help us to be happier. I love being able to lead a community that understands this – the benefits are extraordinary,” Dr Wilson Reynolds said.
St Hilda’s is proud to see this motto in practice.
Earlier this month, Year 5 student, Mary Nash, was awarded the Fred Hollows Humanity
Award for Queensland in recognition of the selfless work she performs each week in collecting and distributing food for the homeless people of Southport.
Throughout the century there have been many titles of honour and prestige given to the school.
In 2017, none has been more celebrated than the school’s First VIII Rowing squad winning the prestigious Head of the River Regatta for the first time in the school’s history.
“The success of our girls in rowing has shown that dedication to training, willingness to listen to instruction, commitment to a team and a calm approach when under pressure are the hallmarks of great achievement,” she said.
“I hope this success will inspire not only our future rowers but also all our girls in their learning endeavours.”
Beloved by current and former students, staff and faculty, St Hilda’s School families send second, third and fourth generations to the school. Notables among St Hilda’s alumnae include the late journalist and broadcaster Rebecca Wilson, who sadly passed away in 2016, Olympian Emma Snowsill and Australian international football player Elise Kellond-Knight who plays for Turbine Potsdam in the German Allianz Frauen Bundesliga and the Australian national team, the Matildas.
“There is no doubt in my mind that an all-girls education provides opportunities for young women that they would not have in other contexts,” Dr Wilson Reynolds said.
“We are incredibly proud of our girls and their extraordinary achievements.”
Dr Wilson Reynolds said research suggested that all girls’ schools fostered confidence, achievement, engagement and a better sense of self and that they approach mathematics, science and technology with greater confidence because they are free of any constraining stereotypes.