Lilian Whiteoak was in the first student intake of 1913. At the time Mr Mulvey suggested that she should aim for the University Course by sitting matriculation in March 1914. Mr Booth gave her the extra Practical Chemistry work she needed and then during the school vacation, coached her without fee in the Mathematics she was unable to cover at school.

As she said 50 years later " ...Miss Dunlop almost despaired of my French but to Mr Atkins and these wonderful teachers I shall always be grateful that I was able to enter Science I at the University of Sydney in 1914."

She gained her Bachelor of Science and graduated from Teachers' College having won the Jones Memorial Medal.

In 1917, Lilian joined the staff at Parramatta High School. She described it as "a real homecoming". She was transferred at the end of the year.

Miss Whiteoak went on to teach at Newcastle High, St George Girls' High and Hunter High School. Her association with Fort Street Girls' High would last over many years. She first joined the staff in 1931 as Science mistress and later as deputy headmistress, returning in 1952 as headmistress of the school.

The Fort Street Girls' High School Magazine described her as a "stickler for tradition" (so typically PHS) and praised her for her dedication to the many traditions at the school. They noted that she"...took a keen interest in every pupil and her knowledge of each individual was amazing". Miss Whiteoak always maintained a close association with the Old Girls' Union (and the PHS Ex-Students' Union).

Her appointment to the Board of Secondary Schools' Studies saw her representing girls' education - in her eyes scholastic achievement was a "worthy aim".

We would like to thank ex-student Bruce Whiteoak, Lilian's nephew, who brought some of his familiy's memorabilia to the 90th anniversary picnic. The picture shows Lilian's entry in Women of Parramatta* as well as her Jones Memorial Medal.

*(produced for the Parramatta Ladies Auxilliary Trust whose chairman was Rosslyn Blay an ex-student)