The School Archive has a precious keepsake on loan from past student, Emma Gunn (1971). We know it is precious to Emma and the School for more than one reason: firstly, Emma was able to put her hand on it immediately—she knew exactly where it was kept—and she cannot bear to part with it permanently; and secondly, it is the only prize book we have handled that was awarded for the Josephine Bancroft Prize for Biology. This reminded us that, of the many illustrious alumnae of Girls Grammar, Josephine Bancroft is not widely known, even by winners of the prize, but she is a woman and a scientist who deserves recognition and celebration. So, who was Josephine Bancroft, and why Biology?
Josephine Bancroft was born at Deception Bay, on 7 August 1896, and was initially home-schooled by her mother, Cecilia. She would have had a wonderfully free childhood, growing up on a large rural property, and from her recollections she spent a great deal of time with her medical practitioner father, Thomas. She would help him collect and research many of the plants, animals, and insects that lived in the area—giving her a lifelong love of the study of the natural world, and an early understanding of the effect the local ecology had on the health of human beings. So, we can see that the roots of a love of Science, investigation, logic, and problem-solving were laid very young.
Josephine started at Brisbane Girls Grammar School in 1910, living with her grandparents in Indooroopilly during the week. The choice of a school—where the Sciences have always been such an integral aspect of the curriculum, even if these subjects in the early years of the School were considered questionable or even unsuitable for young women—was a perfect match. Josephine participated fully in the sporting and academic life of Girls Grammar, being awarded a number of prizes in Mathematics, and then winning an Open Scholarship to The University of Queensland in 1914, where she studied towards a science degree.
Josephine wanted to go to Sydney University to study Medicine—The University of Queensland medical school only opened in 1936—but could not afford to go. Undeterred but determined, she saved up funds through her research and collaboration on several papers with Professor of Biology at The University of Queensland, Thomas Johnston, who also supervised her Walter and Eliza Hall Fellowship in Economic Biology. Josephine finally travelled to Sydney and earned her medical degree in 1923.
She met her husband, Ian Mackerras, while at University, and they married in Eidsvold in 1924. Her family members describe ‘Jo’ as a wonderful warm and generous woman, and Evelyn Bancroft—who is married to her nephew—tells of Josephine selling her precious microscope and using the money for her and her fiancée to travel to her family home in Eidsvold, Queensland for their wedding.
Josephine will be remembered for her interest in, and study of parasites, and the effect they had on the health of the community. While this may seem an unusual choice, this interest endured throughout her life. One of her more outstanding areas of research was during World War II where, as a Major in the Australian Army, she was commissioned to work on anti-malaria research in 1943. She ‘reduced the incidence of infection in the armed forces and provided a secure and scientific basis for studying the effects of drugs on the malarial parasite’ (Williams, 2006).
This keen scientist published more than 80 papers between 1918 and 1970, on topics including entomology, veterinary medicine, and medical science. In 1965, she was awarded the Clarke Medal for Zoology by the Royal Society of New South Wales—the oldest learned society in the Southern Hemisphere—for distinguished work in the Natural sciences. In 1966, she was elected a fellow of the Australian Society of Parasitology.
Perhaps it is no wonder then, at a time when she was already unwell and almost completely housebound, that Josephine’s friends wanted to establish a prize to honour her and celebrate her life’s work. Thus, in her 1969 Head Mistress’s Report, Acting Head Mistress of the School, Miss Nancy Shaw, mentioned that past students and friends of Josephine Mackerras (Bancroft), had wanted to donate two prizes to honour their friend:
What is notable is that the prizes were to be awarded to Year 11 students and achievements in two subjects were to be celebrated, one in a subject no longer offered— Zoology. The first Zoology winner in 1969 was Gayle (Anna) Evans (1969) and the first Biology winner was Rhyllis Shea (1970) in 1970. The Biology prize was not awarded in 1969.
Fields within the sciences, and in particular Biology, had been developing since the beginning of the 20th century with so much new material revealed, it was decided to discard some Science subjects to accommodate this new knowledge. This is what happened to Zoology and Botany (Stanhope, 1976, p. 94).
Although the original intent appears to have been for two science prizes to be awarded to fifth-form students (Year 11), sixth-form (Year 12) students were also included in this award. Year 12 student, Clare Kelly (1973), was the last student to receive the Josephine Bancroft Prize for Zoology. From 1982, a decision appears to have been made to award only one Josephine Bancroft Prize to the top Biology student in Year 12, starting with Katherine Jeays (1982 Dux).
The introduction of Senior Biology in 1968 meant a considerable investment by the School into what is, in 2024, one of the most popular Science subjects in Years 10, 11, and 12. The original Science block was extended; additional laboratories were added on each of the three levels; modern equipment like microscopes and stereomicroscopes purchased; and new staff hired to teach, resource, and develop the subject. Mrs Vimla Sharma, BSc, DipEd, was appointed to teach Biology and Chemistry from 1969. Additionally, the School’s first laboratory assistant, Mrs Savage, was hired in the same year to oversee the increase in specialist lesson preparation and the maintenance of sophisticated apparatus.
The study of Science at Girls Grammar has come a long way. From the First Lady Head Mistress, Mrs O’Connor’s, attempts to share the services of Boys Grammar teacher of Natural Science and Physics, Mr Rennie, and her desire to introduce these subjects to her pupils—which proved futile, as the girls could not go to the Boys School unchaperoned and the apparatus could not be carried to the Girls’ School for a simple hour’s lesson (Barnett, 2002). At the time there were very few women who had knowledge, training, or the ability to teach Science. How things have changed—thankfully!
With the introduction of the Josephine Bancroft Prizes in 1969, many of its winners have gone on to study and work in the fields of science, mathematics, law and the arts, but taking their love of the natural world and their outstanding analytical and interpretative skills with them. These students found their Biology teachers inspirational and admired their knowledge of the subject. Alison Harris (1978) speaks of her teacher, Vim Sharma, with great fondness—she had looked forward to Biology lessons with her, and along with her classmates, was instilled with a deep love of science, biology, and the environment. These attributes remain with Alison today, shaping her career and interests as a paediatrician working in child development with ‘a love of exploring wilderness places’.
Caroline Thew (1975), who won the prize in both Years 11 and 12, speaks with fondness of her Biology classes: ‘It was a beautiful way to learn biology from an ecological perspective and it influenced my thinking throughout my life’.
Marie-Louise Cantamessa (1976) was Dux of the School and, among her prizes, was awarded the Josephine Bancroft Prize for Biology. She has high praise for her Biology teacher, John Stamford, whom she describes as ‘full of enthusiasm’. Lou adds that ‘he challenged us to think differently, always to question, never to rote learn’ (Personal communication, July 12, 2024). John Stamford must have been successful in his methods because, in her final report thoughtfully supplied by Lou, he wrote: ‘Lou Lou is never satisfied with half the answer.’
Josephine Bancroft would have agreed with this comment of the student who was such a worthy winner. Marie-Louise describes her prize as a beautiful book on Australian birds, and at the time: ‘I have to confess that I had no interest in birding. Life isn’t always predictable, however, and after six years of med school and four years as a junior doctor at Royal Brisbane Hospital I moved to Kenya. While still working as a doctor I help my husband run his walking safari company. Hiking and birding are now a big part of my life’.
Marie-Louise’s words demand a closer look at Emma Gunn’s 1971 Josephine Bancroft Prize for Biology. Marie-Louise’s prize was a more logical choice than that won by Emma. One might wonder why she was awarded a copy of A Yard of Sun by Christopher Fry, a play set in Siena, Italy in 1946. Fortunately, this book selection did not deter Emma’s natural interests. She went on to work for the Wilderness Society and the Tasmanian Conservation Trust during the Franklin River campaign, before returning to University and graduating with an Arts/Law degree. She still bushwalks regularly.
The unusual selection of this book will have to remain a mystery as prize books at that time were not chosen by the students themselves, but by staff. Irrespective of the choice of book, however, the prize itself has revealed a fascinating story and provided the opportunity to celebrate a special Grammar woman.
Jenny Davis
Sesquicentenary Research Officer
Kristine Cooke (Harvey 1967)
English Teacher
References:
Williams, L. (2006) Mabel Josephine (Jo) Mackerras (1896-1971). Australian Dictionary of Biography online, 15(2000) Volume 15. Retrieved from https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mackerras-mabel-josephine-jo-11411
Barnett, P. (2002) Unpublished presentation “Trustees, Science and the Arts in a Girls’ School” 26 March 2002.
BGGS 1961 – 1978 Register – Prize Lists
Cantamessa, ML. Email correspondence 17.07.2024.
Davis, J. Conversation with Evelyn Bancroft 29 January 2015.
Gunn, E. Email correspondence 26.06.2024.
Hammer, J. Email correspondence 23.07.2024.
Harris, A. Email correspondence 03.07.2024.
McDonald, L. (1970) Head Mistress’s Report
McKay, J. (1997) “Brilliant Careers. Women collectors and illustrators in Queensland” Brisbane – Queensland Museum.
Pearn, J. & Powell, L. (Eds) 1991 “The Bancroft Tradition” Amphion Press, Brisbane.
“The Bancrofts: A Century of Scientific Endeavour” 1972. Proceedings of the Royal Society Queensland 84(1): 1-34, 1972.
Stanhope, R. “Some Aspects of Secondary School Science in Australia. Centre for Advancement of Teaching Education” Monograph Series. No. 9. Macquarie Univ.., North Ryde-(Australia). Feb 1976. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED130863.pdf.
Thew, C. Email correspondence 21.07.2024.