Jeanette Perkins was born in 1927 at Ballarat. She attended Alfredton State School and Pleasant Street State School before completing her secondary schooling at Ballarat High School (BHS). During her later years at BHS Perkins decided that she wanted to become a geologist, but was ineligible for university when she failed Leaving Certificate maths. She attended an interview with the principal (Heseltine) at the Ballarat School of Mines (SMB) and announced that she wanted to be a geologist. Heseltine was, according to Perkins, aghast: he informed her that there had never been a female geologist at SMB and they didn't want one. But Perkins persisted. Only then did Heseltine reluctantly enrol her in the School's Applied Chemistry Course which offered the most geological subjects, moreover, it was the only one he considered available to a 'mere' female. After graduating Perkins was employed as a metallurgical chemist with M.B. Johns Valves, Ballarat. In 1949 she married Alfred Watson. In 1951 Jeanette and Alf Watson moved to Melbourne where she commenced work as a metallurgical chemist at the Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory while studying geology part time: Alf returned to study at the University of Melbourne. Once again, Watson set a precedent by becoming the first female student to study geology part-time at the Melbourne Technical College. Increasing demands brought about by her growing family, she turned to part-time lecturing second and third year stratigraphy and palaeontology at RMIT. In 1957 the Watsons moved to the Mary Kathleen Uranium Mine in NW Queensland where he was appointed electrical design engineer. After their return to Melbourne in 1960, Jeanette taught herself to SCUBA dive and quickly developed a passion for the sport and the marine environment. She taught senior science to secondary students for 10 years whilst working towards a Masters degree. In 1991 Jeanette Watson was awarded a Doctorate from Deakin University.women of note, ballarat school of mines, alfredton state school, pleasant street state school, ballarat high school, leaving certificate maths, interview with principal, heseltine, geologist, applied chemistry course, no female geologists, metallurgical chemist, married 1949, melbourne, ordinance factory, part time study, melbourne technical college, rmit, part time lecturer, scuba diving, science teacher for ten years, masters degree, doctorate, deakin university

Relates to Ballarat School of Mines studies and excursions. The album belonged to Jeanette Perkins (later Watson) .Bound photograph album relating to study at the Ballarat School of Mines in 1944/45, and excursions to Sydney and Newcastle. Photographs include: Sydney War Memorial, Sydney Harbour, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Newcastle.jeanette watson, studies and excursions 1944/45, photo album, alumni, ballarat school of mines, sydney war memorial, sydney harbour, sydney harbour bridge, newcastle, university women, wyong, jeanette perkins, student activities

Undated newsclipping from the Ballarat Courier with 6 photographs of reunion attendees.reunion, alumni, ballarat school of mines, science school, terry lloyd, bob mckenzie, norm edward, jeanette watson, jeanette perkins, bill pryor, peter marxsen, graeme scarfe, john middlin, basil marshall, bruce tippett, alfred watson, john mccoy, john mckenzie, kingsley bremner, john blainey, lloyd lehman

School Council, Members of Staff, Editorial, Principal's Page, News and Notes, Prize Presentation, Magazine Committee 1950, Prominent Personalities, The Literary Society, Retirements, Boys Sport, Annual Sports, Football. Baseball, Tennis, Science School, Television in Australia,The Apprentices, Commercial Notes, The Girls Association, Preps and Dressmakers, The Art School, Junior School, List of Full Course Students, Students doing Trade Apprenticeship courses, Junior Technical School Roll CallWhite soft covered magazine with green and gold font.ballarat school of mines, magazine, k. e. scull, g.w. barrel, e. j. tippett, j. harriott, lindsay hillman, a. e. watson (nee jeanette perkins, n. andrews, j. peyton, c.g. fairbank, s. jones, f. benjamin, b. flavel, f. heath, v. jolly, h. browning, m. troon, w. archibald, r. gay, s. ross, d. cotton, b. bryan, rodney t. sheppard, m. j. mccarthy, shirley ross, george m. hetherington, john k. ballinger, roberta gay, lois pedrazzi, robert tantau, joyce eberhardt, louise hamilton, joy lyons, john f. swain, d. mullins, g. cornell, arthur burrow, j. watts, w. carlyon, a. kinnane, j. boag, r. ingleton, b. schreenan, s. deans, j. tinney, r. campbell, j. vernon, j. jopling, d. durant, j. ballinger, j. swain, k. treloar, t. duncan, j. bethune, j. hines, l. owen, c. livitsanso, m. stevens, bob davis, e. boschen, j. sawyer, c. restarick, r. archer, m. tunbridge, j. carmichael, a. brokenshire, m. barker, a. mccallum, l. searle, p. richards, r. simpson, n. ludbrook, r. sheppard, nigel fitzclarence, j. m. blackburn, m. m. phillips, w. k. holmes, william rodgers, barry pearce, e. sobey, norma taylor, pat lavery, heather browning, anne wright, barbara wilson, lynette klein, margaret winberg, pearl monds, d. searle, heather harris, glenys nolan, dorothy wilkie, mary gleeson, phyllis dellaca, valerie jolly, anne turnley, lynette bromley, n. taylor, n. hooker, g. mainwaring, barbara symons, wm. j. paterson, j. jenkin, r. l. whitla, pastor r. m. hunting, r. phillips, r. f. bawden, l. b. doull, g. graham, s. hoffman, j. mulrooney, g. stimson, c. lockhart, b. kennedy, d. irish, l. dow, s. saw, m. winberg, h. clark, f. case, r. braybrook, g. holmes, e. mackie, j. collier, a. johnstone, n. newey, f. young, b. baldock, b. graham, n. caldow, c. hay, e. carter, g. delaland, r. millar, r. kennedy, g. wittingslow, h. flack, r. quayle, g. ditchfield, j. parrot, a. brogden, m. hodder, r. satchell, r. lyons, j. gilmer, f. andrewartha, b. tozer, d. jones, l. fuhrmeister, r. furlong, j. twaits, c. hocking, n. andres, d. quick, g. vickers, b. mann, s. kellett, b. matthews, g. gilbert, afl, vfl

Ringwood Mail newspaper article clipped from pages 9 and 14, 23 December, 1958.Norwood's First Speech Night FOR its first Annual Speech Night Norwood High School put on a remarkably smooth and entertaining performance. It even broke new ground for these occasions by staging a junior Mannequin Parade. In the appreciative audience were the Mayor and Mayoress of Ringwood (Cr. and Mrs. R. 0. Spencer), Cr.and Mrs. Peter Vergers, Cr.and Mrs. Doug Baxter, Cr.and Mrs. Ben Hubbard, and Mr. George Ormandy (Head Master of Ringwood High School) and Mrs. Ormandy. After the singing of the Norwood High School Song,'Fidelis', the Mayor, as Chairman, gave high praise to the school for its 'mighty effort on its first Speech Night.' It was an historic night, he said, an event which would live in the minds of the boys and girls of the school for as long as they lived. Education was a live issue today, the Mayor said, and it was as well to reflect on what the teaching staff of a school was asked to do. They were asked to teach the children how to play their part in life, to make decent men and women of them. And if the children were a future disappointment to their parents the Head Master and the staff could not be blamed. On behalf of the Council and citizens of Ringwood, the Mayor offered congratulations and good wishes for a happy Christmas. In his report the Head Master (Mr. J. A. Gibson, B.A.) said the school colours of purple and gold had been appropriately chosen because of the golden wattle and purple sarsaparilla which rioted through the district. The badge design was a transition of Nowood to Northward, a symbolic representation of the magnetic compass which formed the central motif of the badge. The fact that the compass is used by travellers as a reliable guide gave the school the motto 'Fidelis' which combined the ideas of faithfulness trustworthiness and dependability. The word was easy to remember and to say, and its meaning set a worthy ideal which the boys and girls of the school could strive to attain. For House names native words had been chosen and they were associated with features of the district. The names Kalinda, Maroondah, Mullum and Yarra had already acquired a special significance for everyone associated -with the school. School traditions were also being established, the report went on, by the holding of annual swimming and athletic meetings and the awarding of prizes, and the school had been helped here by the generosity of certain good people of the community who had presented trophies. In the field of inter-house activities the Couche family had presented to the school the Couche Cup for Swimming Contests, and the Warrandyte cup for aggregate points earned in all sports; Mr. Avison had presented the Norwood Cup. for Athletics Contests, and Mr. and Mrs. Jack Godbehear the Rosebank Shield for award to the House gaining the highest aggregate score each year. Members of the Mackinlay family had perpetuated the name of the early owner of the property on which the school is built by donating a sum of money, the interest of which would provide the William and Elizabeth Mackinlay Prize each year for the Dux of Norwood High School. ATHLETIC SUCCESS The gross enrolment of 117, included 52 boys and 65 girls, who were divided into three forms of approx equal ability. The curriculum had been broadened to include excursions to the Art Gallery and Museum, to Orchestral concerts, and trips to Warrandyte, the Maroondah Dam and Healesville Wild Life Sanctuary. The school had taken part in inter-school sports contests during the year and came first in their section of the Swimming Contests held at Olympic Pool, also gaining second place at the Athletic Meeting at Olympic Park late in the year. A Social Service League had been formed in the school and had raised £36/7/3. This had been distributed to the Anti-Cancer Campaign, the Lord Mayor's Hospital Appeal, and Yooralla Crippled Children's Appeal. A Parents and Citizens Association had also been formed which had already raised more than £90 towards school funds. Mr. Gibson expressed the school's appreciation to the Head Master, staff and pupils of Boronia High School where Norwood pupils had been guests, and hoped that Norwood would be able to look after Mitcham High School as well in the coming year. After an informative explanation of the 'Importance and Responsibilities of a High School Advisory Council given by Inspector of Schools, Mr. H. W. Hopkins, B.A., the big moment of the evening arrived—the presentation of prizes and certificates by the Hon. J. W. Manson, MLA. Mr. Manson said the purpose of a school was twofold. It was to teach the children to fend for themselves and to live with one another. He congratulated Norwood High on its good start for the year and also those who didn't win prizes because, he said, they had learnt the most important lesson of all — not to win but to keep on trying. Second half of the program was purely entertainment. The School Drama Club presented a Christmas Nativity tableau and an adaptation of Charles Dickens' 'Christmas Carol' with considerable talent. The unique Dress Parade, conducted on the usual professional lines with a running commentary, was both amusing in its sophistication and delightful for the youthful charm of the mannequins and the excellence of the garments displayed. Attractive winter and summer school uniforms were displayed by boys and girls and featured the purple and gold colouring of the school. The girls' summer uniforms were fresh and cool looking with narrow lavender and white stripes. Gold Cesarine sports frocks were distinguished by a purple cord sash. Garments were made by girls in the Needlework Classes and reflected the greatest credit on both pupils and teachers. Cooking aprons, skirts, frocks and knitted sweaters and cardigans showed a wide variety and charm and the school uniforms were practical and smart. There was a bracket of rollicking folk dancing and a Making Music Interlude in which a group of boys and girls, in full hillbilly rig put on a turn with home-made instruments, penny whistles and their own fresh young voices. Teamwork was very good and the whole thing most amusing. Under the direction of Mr.J. A. Collins, the School choir sang delightfully; the traditional 'Greensleeves' and 'Gaudeums Igitur' being particularly effective. PRESENTATION PRIZES FORM 1A PASS CERTIFICATES — Margaret Forder, Noala Fullarton,Karen Gill, Jeanette Hamilton, Maureen Ing, Phyllis Kellar, Marie Knee, Norma Leslie, Mary Mackay, Valerie Quaife, Beverley Rimmer, Elizabeth Stubbs, Heather Trout, Gail Waugh, Brigitte Wieneroider, Jacqueline Wilson, Jeffrey Barnes, Stuart Dickson, Donald Duff, Brian Fitzgrald, Patrick Ford, Ian .Holt, Robert Jenkins, Allan Meyland, Ross Perkins, David Pullen, Denis Wise, John Wright. HONOUR CERTIFICATES; Lois Dewar, 89; Pauline Harmer 86.9, Brian Horswell 87.2. PASS CERTIFICATE and MOST IMPROVED: Willy Hoogstraat. HONOUR CERTIFICATE and DUX: Anne Luscombe, 94.9. FORM IB PASS CERTIFICATES: Faye Alsop, Helen Ashton, Joan Bedford, Carole Bonnett, Hazle Collins, Eileen Gunn, Gloria Lander, Meryn Longmire, Dianne Mclntyre, Geraldine McWilliam, Leslie Mahoney, Dawn Marley-, Judith Miller, Ann Morgan, Lucia Pruis, Dianne Whitehead, Jeffrey Aus, Peter Buckthorpe, Donald Falkingham, Brian Girvan, Nicholas Lobb, Graham Prime, Keith Purdie, Ronald Ryan, Colin Standfield, Kerry Stuart, Michael Toppin, Ian Weist, Terrence West, James Wilson. HONOLTR CERTIFICATES: Anne Couche 85.2; Susan Rule, 93.1; Dianne Thompson 92.1. PASS CERTIFICATE and MOST IMPROVED: Anne Bottomley. HONOUR CERTIFICATE and DUX: Arno Haemmerlea. FORM 1C PASS CERTIFICATES: Caroline Andrew, Ann Blower, Dianne Brown, Glenda Farrall, Judith Gibson, Jane Godbehear, Deidre Harding, Helen Morris, Margaret Patterson, Beverley Vergers, Heike Wenzel, Naomi Willshire. Beverley Wilson, Linda Woolan, Geoffrey David, Rowan Don, Timothy Donovan, Anthony Johnston, Michael Lavey, Frank Noble, Michael Parks, Graham Rogers, Gordon Stark, Angus Stark, David Williams. HONOUR, CERTIFICATES: Jennifer Coombs 87.1; Janice Cooke, 85.3; Merlyn Robertson 89.4; Richard Bell, 88.5; Peter Van Den Heuvel, 92.9; John Kerr, 89.3. PASS CERTIFICATE and MOST IMPROVED: Phillip Brown. HONOUR CERTTFICATE and DUX; Helena Lobb. ART PRIZE: Merlyn Robertson, 1C. NEEDLEWORK PRIZE: Judith Gibson, 1C. WILLIAM and ELIZABETH MACKINLAY PRIZE for Dux of the School: Anne Luscombe, 34.8. ATHLETICS CHAMPIONS. Norma Leslie (Mullum) under 13, girls. Dianne Whitehead (Yarra), 13 yrs and over girls, Don Falkingham (Kalinda), under 13, yrs, boys, Denis Wise (Maroondah), 13 years and over. HOUSE AWARDS Couche Cup for House Swimming Competition: Maroondah. Norwood Cup for House Athletics; Mullum. Warrandyte Cup for House Sport: Yarra. Rosebank Shield, for total House Points scored during year: Mullum.