Gail Stewart - Biography

From the Editor: Miss Gail Stewart was born in Queensland, educated in Brisbane, and spent some time working in the United Kingdom as was a preferred way of life for professionals in the 1960s.

She was a crucial administrative leader in the period from 1981 until her retirement, as well as being an inspiring teacher of Mathematics. Upon her retirement the late Clive James, another of the ‘expat’ community in London of which Gail was a member, sent a congratulatory message recalling those London days. Her work in the later years of her service to Redlands included direct management of the annual and daily digital school timetable. Miss Stewart continues after retirement to be in touch with Alumni and families from her Redlands Years.

Gail Stewart applied for a position as a mathematics teacher to commence teaching at SCEGGS Redlands in 1968.

She met with the Headmistress Mrs Isobel Humphery in her office in ‘The Cottage’. Mrs Humphery impressed Gail as a person who was very much aware of the needs for the best education of girls.

This long interview included personal details of Gail’s life and family. the interview ended with Mrs Humphery having introduced Gail to the Head of the Mathematics Department, Mrs Brenda Burnett. Mrs Humphrey commented at the conclusion of this process that she would be in touch as soon as possible.

Within the next few days Gail returned home to hear from the girls in her apartment that Mrs Humphery had called to visit her. After a cup of tea Mrs Humphery left with the message for Gail to please phone her in the morning. Gail was to commence teaching at SCEGGS Redlands in Term 1 of 1968.

At this time SCEGGS was a large girls' school with enrolment from Kindergarten to Form 12 and one of the great Independent Schools in Sydney indeed NSW and with high academic results. Enrolment was to increase to over 800 in the next few years.

At this time the school had a very strong parent involvement, commitment and support for the school. The mothers organised the canteen providing morning tea and lunch. It was very obvious too that the Old Girls Association was strong and their involvement with Reunions indicated their enormous support for Mrs Humphery.

Mrs Humphery made it very clear to the teaching staff what she expected of them beyond teaching to a high standard in all subjects. The girls were to be supported with good manners, respect for their school, respect for their school uniform and acting always in a ladylike manner when in public. The Deputy Headmistress Miss Jessie Steel was a tower of strength within the school totally committed to the school, always available to the teaching staff and certainly for the younger teachers. She was much loved by the students, past and present. The Mathematics Department through Mrs Brenda Burnett set high academic standards for the girls to be taught to achieve their best results. All academic departments together supported their staff.

HODs as Senior staff were very close to Mrs Humphery. She would attend morning tea with the staff in the Gerard Street cottage frequently after the Heads of the five schools had attended a meeting with the Diocese of Sydney. She would often have good news and on occasions speak confidentially to the senior staff. It was soon to be made public that the church had invested in property in William Street. It was mentioned to the teaching staff that this investment would be of great benefit to the schools, financially in the future.

Mrs Humphery was a very intelligent woman and would appear very suspicious of the details and the so-called benefits, she would not be hesitant in "asking inappropriate, difficult questions" of the members of the Diocese. The media was printing that the SCEGGS Schools were facing financial difficulties, indicating the schools may close. This resulted in many students leaving. Returning to the staff rooms at the end of the teaching day teachers would find a letter on their desk, a notice that their employment was to be ended. A sad and difficult time and the teachers who remained were to teach additional subjects. Gail's teaching with Mathematics included Geography and General Studies.

During these difficult weeks and months many meetings were being held by frustrated parents and also held at the school were meetings by members of the Diocese. Parents and teachers attended with members of the church in turn speaking of the future. Those present did not feel confident that they were being told the truth. Difficult to accept when what was being said, reading between the lines was the intention to save Darlinghurst at the cost of Redlands. Very hard to hear and very hard to accept.

After Mrs Humphery left in 1973 Mrs Helen Foote accepted the position as Headmistress and she was given the support of the teaching staff and the loyal parents with daughters who remained at the school. Mr Rodney Wells was Headmaster for one year and Miss Lakeman as Acting Head prior to Mr Peter Cornish being appointed as Headmaster in 1981.

In the meantime, planning was in place led by John Lang, Mr John Roberts and Mr Bruce Adams with the intention to secure the future of SCEGGS Redlands. One decision was that the school would become co-educational with the name change to SCECGS Redlands. It was delightful to welcome the boys to the school. First the little boys and then the boys who entered at Year 7.

It must not be forgotten that in the days of WW11 with Miss Roseby as Headmistress many fathers were away at the war and the mothers were working. To support the mothers Miss Roseby invited the brothers of the girls to attend Redlands. An earlier Redlander Allyson Hattersley (1917-1926) recalled that “Miss Roseby inspired in the girls an understanding of human nature and her wise counsel helped to inspire everyone to look to the future with confidence”.

It was in 2000 that a book listing the daily attendance of these boys was found. Listed was a boy named Basil Phillips who had a sister at Redlands. Then in the seventies the four daughters of Basil attended SCEGGS Redlands and in the nineties several of his grandchildren attended SCECGS Redlands. With Mr Cornish as Headmaster ex-students returned to their school for their reunions. In more recent years led by many Redlanders with dedication and commitment to their school the Association has become stronger.

Mr Cornish soon appointed three members of staff as Senior Mistresses - Mrs Beverley Boyd (Geography Department), Mrs Denise Playoust (Science Department) and Ms Gail Stewart (Mathematics Department) to take on responsibilities in three different areas of the school. All three had been colleagues at the school and friends for many years. The school grew very quickly with student numbers increasing. Hence was the need to develop in areas such as co-curricular activities. Staff numbers increased as did the promotional positions for the teachers.

A new Deputy Headmaster Mr Christopher Brangwin was appointed and would lead with the introduction of the International Baccalaureate alongside of the HSC. In the 1990's as the number of students increased new campuses were opened:- the Cremorne Campus for students Forms 3 to 8, The Snowy Mountain Grammar School (SMGS) in addition to two Kindergarten Centres. The introduction of the Ballet School provided for girls and boys to follow their love of dance parallel with their academic studies. The purchase of the Cremorne Campus was led by parents of the school and in the main through Mr Robert Dunnet.

Gail enjoyed the privilege of a Term at the SMGS as Acting Headmistress. Jenny Williams would follow, unable to commence until the Second Term at which time she became the second Headmistress of SMGS.

SMGS was a small co-educational school, nevertheless a school with a big heart and with big intentions. The school community knew of the success of SCECGS Redlands and prepared to set their goals accordingly. The Academic Staff, the Co-Curricular and Games Staff with the HOD’s at Redlands took amazing steps to support the teachers and students to prepare for a very good education. The parents of SMGS with their sons and daughters proudly prepared for the future of the school. Gail was most appreciative for this experience and for the opportunity to see the development of the Students. Especially those in Leadership roles.

In 1990 Gail Stewart was promoted to Deputy Headmistress with the responsibility of the Administration of the School.

The development of the Foundation led by Mr Alex Nicholson who attended meetings with the great older Redlanders who had met for years (since the mid-thirties) at the Gordon Club, Chatswood. It was with Alex Nicholson, Gail Stewart and Tracey Mulligan (a Redlander and a parent) and later Mrs Amanda Bell (a parent of the school) that The Redlands Westpac Art Prize was established in 1996 with the purpose of introducing an Art Collection for the school. It was acknowledged that the Art Prize benefited both the established artists and the emerging artists across Australia.

Other acts of generosity were commonplace at Redlands during that time. In the 1990’s a young girl walked into the school wanting to speak with someone about her education. She met with Deputy Headmaster Christopher Brangwin and expressed her wish to attend Redlands as a student and gain her School Certificate. There was no possibility of her having any personal financial support. After this discussion another took place with the Headmaster Peter Cornish and then with the School Board. So, arrangements were made and this young woman attended Redlands as a student and was presented with her School Certificate with other members of her Year 10 class. She was fully supported by the teachers and the students. She happily departed Redlands knowing that she had the courage to ask and a hand of generosity was offered.

Student numbers at Redlands over the years increased to over 1800 over several campuses. Denise Playoust who was at this time the Director of Studies was promoted to Deputy Head Mistress of Studies. She supported and guided the HSC students as the girls and boys achieved excellent results as one of the best academic schools in NSW. In 2000 Gail organised the first overseas Reunion in London which was attended by many ex-students who were living and working in the UK and in Europe.

Gail retired at the end 2001 after 34 rewarding and happy years at Redlands.

Gail M Stewart, Sydney, 2020