From the Archives: 1933

1933 was the year that Penleigh Presbyterian Girls' School adopted the Black Watch tartan for school tunics, to be worn in conjunction with white shirt and dark navy blue tie. Students were urged to wear it proudly, in the spirit of "the Highlanders of old."

An excerpt from The Penleigh Magazine 1933 reads:

"All over the world to-day men, women, and children are wearing distinctive uniforms. In other lands it becomes increasingly fashionable to show your opinions by the colour of your shirt. Now, so far, Penleigh girls have stuck to white shirts, which, it seems, have no special significance; but they, too, are to have a more distinctive uniform, and in future will be recognised not only by badge and colours, but also by the tartan of their tunics. Surely it is easier for a scout to polish his boots when they are part of his uniform, and Penleigh girls will turn out trimly in the glory of the tartan. But this uniform means much more that this; it means that we are bound with others for mutual benefit and service."

"Our school... makes demands hard enough to fulfil of all who wear its badge. It calls for service and sacrifice. In service we must be whole-hearted, doing our best in work and play; alert to notice ways in which we may help, and eager to give. And what sacrifice is asked of school girls? That which is asked of us all later in life. We must be ready to give up our own desire if it clashes with the welfare of the school as a whole; we must learn to discipline ourselves until we honour the rules made for the general good. When we are able to do these things we shall be fit and ready for the positions of trust open to us in the last school years. The more we can do for our school the dearer it will be to us."