The Mollison Cup

The elegant, hallmarked silver Miss Mollison's Challenge cup was first presented in 1920, three years after the interform 'sports' competition was introduced to Girls Grammar.

Essie Lindsay Mollison was educated at the Presbyterian Ladies College (PLC), Melbourne from 1907 to 1912 where she was a school prefect, a member of the Debating Society, and graduated as Dux of Physics and Chemistry. To quote School historian, Helen Penrose, 'An outstanding scholar, she won university exhibitions in Anatomy, Physiology and Botany. Graduating with a Master of Science in 1917. Her first teaching post was at Brisbane Girls Grammar School' (Penrose, 2023).

Although there is no evidence of Essie being involved in school sports, sports were an integral part of the curriculum and, as an intelligent, strong leader, she no doubt saw their value to young women.

It appears that Miss Mollison left the School with significant credibility as a staff member and person and in good favour with the Headmistress and the Trustees. With these sentiments in mind and her role as Athletics co-ordinator, it is likely that she would have been keen to donate a trophy for Interform Athletics to a school where she had happy memories and made a significant contribution.

What is intriguing is the engraving on this cup. The engraving reads Inter-House Aggregate—The Athletics Challenge Cup. However, research has confirmed that this is the trophy referred to as Miss Mollison’s Challenge Cup (Sports) on School Special Prize lists dating from 1920 to 1932 and then Miss Mollison’s Challenge Cup (Athletics) from 1933 until 1941.

In 1942, there was a change in formatting the Special Prizes in the Annual Reports and the trophy was no longer referred to as Miss Mollison’s Challenge Cup (Athletics). The trophy the School now refers to as the Interhouse Athletics Aggregate Cup was named in Miss Mollison's honour from 1920 to 1957; and, in 2024, we celebrate 104 years of the awarding of this trophy.