HALL OF FAME

Mavis Parkinson (1915 - 1942)

2013 Inductee

Student 1930 - 1931

Mavis Parkinson was born in Ipswich in 1915. In 1930 she enrolled it the Commercial Course at Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School completing the Junior Public Examination.

From an early age, it was apparent Mavis wanted to devote her life to the service of others. At age 21, she began teacher training in Brisbane before moving to Sydney where she completed courses in anthropology and languages and obtained her Licentiate of Theology. In 1940, she was appointed to teach at the Anglican Mission School at Gona in New Guinea. Life was very primitive and Mavis walked vast distances through the jungle to reach her pupils.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbour, the war in the Pacific gained intensity and Mavis and her fellow missionaries were given the opportunity to leave but, despite the increasing danger, Mavis refused, choosing to stay with the people who needed her. In July 1942, Japanese war ships landed at Gona. Mavis and other mission staff fled into the jungle and hid for several weeks before being captured and killed. Mavis was 26 years old.

Since 1944, The Mavis Parkinson Prize for Character has been awarded at Speech Night and is one of the School’s most coveted awards. In 2009, the Mavis Parkinson Junior School was opened in recognition of her service to others.

Mavis gave her life for her faith thus being numbered among the New Guinea Martyrs now acknowledged throughout the world. Her firm commitment to her beliefs in a time of great adversity is an inspiration to those IGGS students who follow in her footsteps.