HALL OF FAME

Miss Gwendoline Horton (nee Whitney)

2016 Inductee

Student 1917 - 1921

Miss Gwendoline (Gwen) Horton was born on 6 November 1903 in Kalbar. She attended Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School from 5 February 1917 until 8 December 1921, as a scholarship holder. She was appointed Head Girl in 1921.

Miss Horton completed her Senior Open School exam in 1921 and topped the State in two Mathematics subjects and Geology. She was one of only three women in Queensland to win an Open Scholarship to the University of Queensland where she completed a Bachelor of Science in 1924, with Honours in Mathematics. In 1934, Miss Horton completed a Bachelor of Arts as a correspondence student to better equip herself for a wide range of subjects.

In 1925, Miss Horton accepted a teaching position at St Hilda’s School in Southport. Apart from nine months in England in1983, she remained there until 1941.

In 1941, Miss Horton was appointed Headmistress of Tamworth Church of England Girls’ School (now knows as Calrossy Anglican School). She is credited with revitalising the School. She improved the educational standards and, reflecting her interest in sport, she introduced swimming lessons for boarders and inter-school hockey games. The history of Tamworth Church of England Girls’ School describes Miss Horton as a dynamic and competent headmistress with a vision for the school’s future. She resigned from the School in 1951.

After taking a year of absence to travel, Miss Horton returned to St Hilda’s in 1952 as Headmistress. In her 12 years as Head, the school flourished. In her five years she established the House system and formed the Women’s Auxiliary which funded the first tuckshop in 1958. During her tenure she opened a school kindergarten for girls and boys, which closed five years later when the Junior School was built.

Miss Horton retired in 1964. Enrolments had increased to 500, half of whom were boarders. She was a much respected educator and Headmistress. In 1972, St Hilda’s Senior School Library was renamed the Horton Centre in her honour.