On Thursday 13 December 1917 – 101 years ago – representatives from the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches in Queensland met formally at St Andrew’s Church on Creek Street to ‘consider the purchase of the Brisbane High School for Girls and Clayfield College and to decide on joint action in relation to such purchase’.
This meeting was effectively the first PMSA board meeting and the beginning of co-operation between the Churches.
More than 100 years on, the PMSA last week commemorated and celebrated the PMSA’s history and achievements over the past 100 years at Brisbane Boys’ College Chapel and George Bissett Gallery.
The event also commissioned new CEO Mrs Sharon Callister and farewelled both long-serving PMSA Board Member and BBC School Council Chairman Mrs Jackie McPherson and Somerville House Principal Dr Ness Goodwin.
Jackie paid tribute to Ness Goodwin who has served for the second time as Principal of Somerville House sharing that Ness is guided in all things by her unshakeable faith in Christ.
“Ness is an entirely selfless and humble person, with a dignity, poise and grace which she employs in every situation in which she finds herself,” said Jackie in her tribute speech.
On behalf of the PMSA, Chairman Greg Adsett paid tribute to Jackie McPherson indicating that her service to the PMSA was intrinsically linked with her strong Christian faith.
“One of Jackie’s greatest contributions has been in the realm of child protection. For many years, she chaired the PMSA’s Abuse Reference Committee and her expertise has been heavily drawn upon to develop the PMSA’s Child Protection Policy,” said Greg.
Jackie will continue to provide her knowledge and expertise in child protection to the PMSA in 2019.