MLC School is regarded as Newington’s ‘sister school’, having been founded as the Wesleyan (later Methodist) Ladies’ College, Burwood, in 1886. Among many other links, the two schools have a Principal in common: MLC School’s founding Principal, the Reverend Charles Prescott (from 1886 to 1899), served as Headmaster at Newington from 1900 to 1931.

For many Newington families past and present, ‘sister school’ has had a literal meaning: brothers coming to Newington, sisters to MLC School. The Goldsmiths, from Trangie in western NSW, were one such family before the First World War. Recently the Archivist at MLC School, Barbara Hoffman, sent me a digital copy of this photograph — showing Herbert Goldsmith, flanked by his sisters Levenia and Ruby, all in their school uniform headgear — provided to her by Herbert’s grandson.

Herbert William George Goldsmith entered Newington in 1909, his sisters entering MLC School the same year. We don’t know how long Herbert stayed at Newington, but he clearly did well in his first year, being awarded Dux of the ‘Lower Modern’ Form. Accompanying the photograph was a digitised copy of Herbert’s report for the second half of 1909. His Form Master reported that he had ‘great ability and application and his examination results and place in Form [were] exceedingly creditable.’

Levenia, Herbert’s older sister, seems to have stayed at MLC School for only a short time. Ruby, however, stayed until 1913, won prizes for Music, Writing, Drawing and Sewing, played hockey and tennis, and served as a Prefect.

Mr David Roberts
College Archivist