Eminent Alumnae

In 2021 MLC School celebrated 135 years of exceptional girls’ education. During this year we commenced this Eminent Alumnae project to bring the stories of our inspiring Old Girls out of the archives and into the world for the entire MLC School community to celebrate. These Old Girls showed audacity and tenacity as they fought for recognition in their professions. Beyond their professions they also passionately promoted equality for women in the workplace. The victories they earned for women who came after them prove them to be true ‘daughters of the light’.

This is an open ended project. If there are Old Girl successes that we are not aware of, or if there are edits to be made to current stories, we wholeheartedly seek your input. Please contact our Archivist, Barbara Hoffman, at bhoffman@mlcsyd.nsw.edu.au with anything you would like to add.

We have arranged these stories by Old Girl cohort year, starting with the most recent and going back all the way to the first few years of the School’s life. You are able to search by profession by using the ‘View by Profession’ list on the right.

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Elaine Shorter (1921)

Elaine Shorter (1921) was MLC School’s first Barrister. She was the Dux of the School and winner of the Old Girl’s Union ...

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Dr Phyllis Anderson (1919)

MB, ChM Syd (1925), MRACP (1938), FRACP (1947). A pre-eminent and highly regarded pathologist, Phyllis carried out r ...

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Marguerite Cooper (Henry, 1913)

Renowned crustaceologist, Marguerite Henry (1913) was awarded three Macleay Fellowships by the Linnean Society of NSW fo ...

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Dr Olive Wood (O'Reilly, 1909)

Olive Kelynack Wood (O’Reilly, 1909) enrolled at MLC School in 1905 at the age of 12. Like her sister Susie, Olive was a ...

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Grace Crowley (1907)

A woman of great intelligence, energy and vision, Grace Adela Williams Crowley (1907) was a pioneer of Australian Abstra ...

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Lucie (Lulu) Shorter (1904)

Lucie (Lulu) Shorter (1904) was an Australian designer best known for her product designs, including the first commercia ...

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Annie Wyatt (Evans, 1902) OBE

Annie Forsyth Wyatt (Evans, 1902), a pioneering conservationist, is celebrated as the founder of the National Trust move ...

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Dr Susie O'Reilly (1898)

Dr Susannah Hennessy (Susie) O’Reilly (1898) was a pioneering female doctor and a champion of professional women’s right ...