Nancy's Memoirs 8

 

There was a "sitting room" for boarders off the dining room but we were not often allowed to
use it.  There was only enough sitting space for about six so the others stood around or
leaned on the arms of the chairs.  After school we were obliged to do some physical activity.  
We didn't want to and mostly played tennis interspersed with talking.  From the time we were
out of school in the afternoons till roll call & sport we sat in the garden under the mango
trees, often writing letters.  As I did music as an extra subject I had to fit in 1 hour per day
practice - 1/2 hr morning & evening.  There were 5 or 6 pianos which were occupied on
roster.  Each morning we had to do typing practise 7am - 7.30am, followed by breakfast at
20 to 8am.  We were supposed to polish our shoes every morning and there was inspection.  
I usually gave them a thorough polish Saturday mornings & a brush up each day before
inspection as there was not much time.

The flowers (2 vases per table) were "done" for the meal tables by roster of the boarders.  
There weren't many flowers in the school gardens which the handyman kept.  The
handyman's name was Mr Kelly & he rang the bell each day & 7 am on Sundays.

There were two pantry maids.  Ivy Baker & Dot Shorrock & the cook was a big fat smelly
woman - Mrs James.  She was a most unusual woman who had difficulty walking.  We were
very friendly with the maids but not the cook.

The kitchen was out of bounds.  We had to do the washing up each night on a roster.  My
turn came every second Sunday evening (salad tea always).  Four of us were on at a time.  
This was done in an area off the kitchen.  The food was cooked on a gas stove which often
gave the food a gassy taste.

Breakfast was always porridge (1st crack of the wheat).  It was not very pleasant & I used
syrup on mine instead of sugar.  (You were then obliged not to use syrup on your slice of
bread afterwards but marmalade was available & I got to like it very much.)  We preferred
brown bread as the white was always sliced thinner & we were very hungry.  We had a small
piece of fruit each.  Half an orange, apple, small bunch of grapes or a banana.  There were
set ways in which these had to be eaten.  One of the fiery house mistresses, Miss Justine
Simmonds used to be disgusted by our manners & called us into the assembly hall once to
give us a fruit eating lesson.

We were allowed a cup of tea morning and evening & water at lunch.  You could have a
glass of milk at night at extra cost which I didn't (no flavouring).

The hot meal was served in the middle of the day, & relished by all.  There was a main meal
& dessert.  It was good quality but we would have liked larger servings.

he evening meal was salad Sundays & one other night.  It was not really sufficient.  Bread &
jam was on the table but we were restricted to one slice & 1 piece of butter.  We hardly ever
saw an egg.  Sometimes we got curried eggs for tea.  Saturday night was always awful soup,
known as "Yarra Mud".  Friday night we had macaroni cheese which I disliked but had to eat
or go hungry.  Sometimes we got stew but couldn't pick up the gravy.

For morning tea we got a sandwich with margarine & lettuce or cucumber, sometimes cheese
if we were lucky.  We called it "scrape'.  Afternoons we got bread & jam (no butter or
marge).  Sundays we got a small piece of cake for afternoon scrape - no icing.  (None in the
morning as we were at church.)

At supper time we got 2 plain biscuits before going to bed & in winter a cup of cocoa also.  
We longed for more.  After a dentist lady visited the school to teach us about dental care the
biscuits were always wheat meal which was sad after the coconut ones.

Saturday mornings I always did my practical art homework as we weren't allowed do it at
night prep., being too messy & having to empty water jars.  I always got good marks for my
art work & the Sat. morning prep. was often supervised by a Senior girl instead of a mistress
and so was less formal than the strict 7-9pm week nights prep.  we were very cold at prep. in
the winter time as there was no heating.  The music rooms were colder where we had to
practise.

Sunday prep. was letter writing.  We could post mail Monday and Wednesday mornings.  2
girls took the mail to the post box down the road on a roster system.  The mail was always
checked out by the Head Mistress to make sure we weren't writing to boy friends.  This did
go on but the letters were smuggled out up the front of the blouses of the mail carriers or by
way of a day girl friend.  This was forbidden, of course.


As I look at the bundle of blank pages remaining in the folder, I imagine what else Mum was
planning to write about of her years at Mount Mee while I was growing up, and the rest of
her life after that.  I am sure she intended to get back to her notes st some stage.  
Unfortunately her untimely death in 1994 meant she would never have the opportunity to
complete these memoirs, but I am grateful to at least have this record of her early years.

The folder also contained pages handwritten by Mum which showed her family tree, as well
as other typewritten information which she had gathered about the Duncan Clan, a
photocopy of some information about my Dad's branch of the Clan from Dundee (dated
January 1991) and a photo of her Grandmother, Elizabeth Duncan (wife of Geordie Duncan).

Evan Duncan
26th November, 2004