After marrying Ron Kirner, Joan Hood was known as Joan Kirner. She became the first female Premier of Victoria. “When I went out teaching, I went to Ballarat Girls Tech, where I met [husband] Ron who was at Ballarat Boys Tech. They were seen as tough schools, and I saw the disadvantage faced by these girls who were at the lowest of the low of the education rung – and yet there were some fantastic girls there who needed equal opportunity. So I think it was teaching that cemented in my mind that people don’t get an even go – and in particular girls. It didn’t take me too long to realise blokes were largely empowered. And it was teaching that cemented how equity and empowerment for women could be achieved through education.” Sarah Capper: You graduated from Melbourne University in 1958, and as mentioned, began work as a teacher in Ballarat. You married Ron in 1960 and received one of those government letters asking you to resign - JK: Yes, I think it burnt a hole in my pocket when I brought it home! We were both teachers, and I said to Ron, “Well, you got married – where’s your letter?!” That really clarified that the world wasn’t quite even, even in this profession that I’d always wanted and loved. I didn’t get superannuation – I think I got something like 100 pounds as pay in lieu of permanent service. And that wasn’t just me – that was a whole generation. Fancy that – that’s what it said – “pay in lieu of permanent service”. So that made me livid. If I hadn’t been a feminist before then, I certainly was by then. I realised the distribution of power was different for women and men. http://sheilas.org.au/2014/02/a-bonza-joan-kirner/, accessed 06/06/2015 Teacher Joan Hood (later Joan Kirner) is surrounded by a number of students from the Ballarat Girl's Technical School, all members of the Magazine Committee.joan hood, joan kirner, ballarat girls' technical school, university women, equal opportunity

1959 was the first issue of 'Threshold'. In 1951 thirty girls started a junior technical course for the first time in Ballarat, under the Principal of the Ballarat School of Mines. By 1959 it had increased enormously with an enrolment of 284 students, and its own headmistress. The early school took place in the Dana Street Primary School and a large portion of the Ballarat Technical Art School. It was not thought necessary for girls to produce a magazine, but Joan Hood (Kirner) was determined that the girls would have the same opportunity as the boys. “When I went out teaching, I went to Ballarat Girls Tech, where I met [husband] Ron who was at Ballarat Boys Tech. They were seen as tough schools, and I saw the disadvantage faced by these girls who were at the lowest of the low of the education rung – and yet there were some fantastic girls there who needed equal opportunity. So I think it was teaching that cemented in my mind that people don’t get an even go – and in particular girls. It didn’t take me too long to realise blokes were largely empowered. And it was teaching that cemented how equity and empowerment for women could be achieved through education.” Sarah Capper: You graduated from Melbourne University in 1958, and as mentioned, began work as a teacher in Ballarat. You married Ron in 1960 and received one of those government letters asking you to resign - JK: Yes, I think it burnt a hole in my pocket when I brought it home! We were both teachers, and I said to Ron, “Well, you got married – where’s your letter?!” That really clarified that the world wasn’t quite even, even in this profession that I’d always wanted and loved. I didn’t get superannuation – I think I got something like 100 pounds as pay in lieu of permanent service. And that wasn’t just me – that was a whole generation. Fancy that – that’s what it said – “pay in lieu of permanent service”. So that made me livid. If I hadn’t been a feminist before then, I certainly was by then. I realised the distribution of power was different for women and men. http://sheilas.org.au/2014/02/a-bonza-joan-kirner/, accessed 06/06/2015 The four houses of the Ballarat Girls' Technical School were Bass House, Sturt House, Flinders House and Mitchell House. Orange and green soft covered magazine of 24 pages. Includes a message from the headmistress, Fay Moore, and a photograph of the Magazine Committee featuring teacher Joan Hook (later Joan Kirner, Premier of Victoria). Information and a photograph is given for the following personalities: Sandra McHenry, Sylvia Rowe, Heather Young, Beverley Davis, Lorna Robertson, Janice Hunter, Margaret Ayars, Margaret Veal, Heather O'Brien, Hilary Batt, Leone Davies, Marlene Drever, Janet Smith.ballarat girls' technical school, joan hood, joan kirner, fay moore, i.e. harris, faye hilton, marilyn miller, lesley cutts, margaret jones, moira blair, rosemary davies, lorraine button, vivienne guy, lorraine krankovich, loralie crabbe, beverley davis, shirley dean, lorrice campbell, hilary batt, valerie stewat, sandra mchenry, joy henderson

Black and white photograph of twenty members of the Ballarat Technical School Football Team with their teacher/coachPencil: Senior 18. JT3 crossed out. BTS. 1sts Pen: Refer 1966 Magazine

Eighteen students from Ballarat Technical School, members of the Swimming Team. Posed for official team photo.Pen: Swimming Team; Refer 1966 Magazine; S/S Pencil: JT35 ; Cross through writing; BJ Tech faintly written in corner.

Table of contents: Editorial, News and Notes, A few hints on histological technique, Summaries and notes from the mining journals, Professor A. Mica Smith B.Sc., Notes on Victorian geology, The origin of diamonds, Hydraulic mining, Volcanoes, Analytical chemistry notes, Some things we ought to do, Sports, Correspondence, Editorial notes.Pale green booklet of 10 pages. ballarat school of mines, students' magazine, g. e. saunder, w. wallace, j. booth, f. farnell, h. waller, a. h. freeman, w. e. hearman, professor dawbarn, e. gutheil, a. selwyn brown, h. watson, a. w. k. peirce, professor mica smith, w. bradford, henry watson, mr e. faribault, j. h. parsons, j. holmes pollock, t. s. hart, thomas hart, alfred mica smith, a. e. c. kerr, g. g. bonney, histological technique, diamonds, victorian geology, massey-harris bicycles, adelaide school of mines, ballarat school of mines colours, ballarat school of mines motto, ballarat school of mines badge, w.hirt, e. byron moore, britannia gold mine, visitors, j. bryant, premier mine coolgardie, last chance gold mine, g.e. saunder, ivanhoe mine kalgoorlie, black horse cyanide works, edgerton, hercules mine, mount reid, tasmania, f. parnell paul, zeehan school of mines, a.h. freeman, crown point gold mining co, w.e. hearman, parker's range, southern cross, w.a., trappean rocks, hydraulic mining, a.e.c. kerr, volcanoes, f.g. bonney, l.j. austine and co., downer and co, carter and werner

Table of contents: Editorial, News and Notes, A Journey from Natal to Mashonaland with the British S.A. Coys. Police, A plea for research, New Caledonia, Notes on Victorian geology, Mt Bischoff Mine & Mill, Summaries and notes from the mining journals, Things we eat and drink, Farewell to A. S. Coyte, Balance sheet, Sports, Editorial notices.Pale green booklet of 12 pagesSigned on front cover 'H.R. Murphy'ballarat school of mines, students' magazine, c.a.m. deane, mr arthur, s. coyte, h.r. murphy, natal, mashonaland, british police, new caledonia, mt bischoff mine and mill, a.s. coyt, harry davis and co, purser and wilson, j. treweek, bert porter, boer war, a.e.c. kerr, eric moore, o. thiele, s.b. vial, lager beer, arthur coyte, l.j. auston & co., great western vineyard, hans irvine, r.g. ingrams, j. miller and co., w. porter and co, carter and werner

Former SMB mining student Alfred Johnston was the son of Charles Johnston of Cork, Ireland, and Elizabeth Jameson, the family owning a large furniture store in Fitzroy. Alfred joined the Fifth Victorian (Mounted Riffles) contingent at the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn. The October 1901 Ballarat School of Mines (SMB) Students Magazine reported 'Alf. Johnston's gone. The news came as a shock to all of us at the school. He who was with us a few short months ago, in all strength of sturdy manhood, has met a soldier's death in South Africa, and we sincerely mourn his loss…. His heart was in the school, and he did his best to further its interests … His last act on leaving Australian shores was to send a telegram from Albany to Prof. Mica Smith, to whom he was warmly attached, wishing the School and all connected with it "Good-bye". In his short, all to short, life of 29 years, he had more adventure than falls the lot of most men, and possibly the spirit of adventure, and also, of duty, prompted him to throw in his lot with the "colors," and leave for the front. The news of his death comes to us with added weight of sadness when we remember that he was one of the organisers of the School entertainment last year to help swell the fund for the erection of a statue to fallen Victorian soldiers.' The SMB Annual Report of 1901 recognised the loss of one of their students: 'Mr Johnston was, until the date of his leaving for active military service in South Africa, one of our students. While here besides being regarded as a general favourite for his urbanity and manliness, he was noted as a faithful, diligent, and most successful student. The news of Lieutenant Johnston's death cast quite a gloom over the school and it was early decided that in addition to a letter of condolence sent to his parents a bronze tablet, suitably inscribed, be erected to his memory in some prominent part of the school. On the 4th November last the ceremony of unveiling the memorial tablet was performed by Professor A. Mica Smith in the presence of several members of the late Lieutenant A.G. Johnston's family, the President and Members of Council, the Staff and Students of the School, and a number of prominent citizens.Brass shield used to commemorate the death of former Ballarat School of Mines graduate Alfred G. Johnston who died during the Boer War. In memory of Alfred G. Johnston Lieut. Fifth Regt V.M.R., and student of this school who fell at Rhenoster Kop, South Africa May 7th 1901 aged 29 years. An esteemed student and a gallant soldier.boer war, victorian mounted rifles, alfred johnston, memorial, rhenoster kop, south africa, south african war

Editorial, Items of interest, Fumes from the Lab, Motion Picture Photography, The Chemlab, The S.M.B. Students' Excursion to the Lead and Copper mining centres, Arts & Crafts gossip, Answers to correspondents, Sport, Shun Military Notes - S.M.B. Roll of Honour, The Junior Techs, Trade notes.Seven orange soft covered magazine.Signed by 'Harold Jolly'.ballarat school of mines, magazine, editorial, items of interest, fumes from the lab, motion picture photography, the chemlab, ballarat school of mines students' excursion to the lead and copper mining centres, arts & crafts gossip, answers to correspondents, sport, military notes, ballarat junior technical school, trade notes, memoriam, henry j. hall, arthur m. lilburne, wallaroo, werribee gorge, werribee gorge excursion, world war one, graham hopwood, brown coal deposits, briquette factory, james pount, henry hum yuen