MORE THAN 100 Years of EDUCATION
1917
13 DECEMBER 1917
The Presbyterian and Methodist Churches in Queensland meet formally to ‘consider the purchase of the Brisbane High School for Girls and Clayfield College‘.
1918
1 July 1918
The formal transfer of ownership of the two schools takes place. The original PMSA Council consists of 24 members, six laymen and six clergy from each church.
1920
The PMSA relocates the Brisbane High School for Girls from leased premises in Wickham Terrace to the newly-purchased property Cumbooquepa at South Brisbane and renames the school Somerville House. The PMSA renames Clayfield College Brisbane Boys’ College.
1930
The PMSA moves Brisbane Boys’ College from Clayfield to larger purchased grounds at Toowong.
1931
The PMSA re-establishes Clayfield College as a primary and kindergarten school for girls and boys.
1942
World War II begins to have an impact on Brisbane and our PMSA schools. Somerville House is taken over for use by the United States military. The PMSA also provides 50 per cent bursaries to children of military families who have been evacuated to Australia from Asian countries.
1964
The first full-time Chaplain Rev. Ken Hooper is appointed at Brisbane Boys’ College, while Rev. Neville Eckersley and Rev. Harry West are appointed full-time Chaplains at Somerville House and Clayfield College respectively in 1977. David Hicks is appointed full-time Chaplain at Sunshine Coast Grammar School in 2006.
1968
The PMSA becomes a founding member of what is now known as Independent Schools Queensland, which promotes and supports the interests of the independent school sector.
1970
The first woman is appointed to the PMSA Council.
1971
The first indigenous girl attends a PMSA school at Clayfield College. The PMSA now offers Indigenous Scholarships to all PMSA schools.
Mid 1970s
Parental involvement becomes greater in running of the schools with several parents joining the PMSA Council.
Photo source: National Archives Washington
1977
The Uniting Church is created after three denominations – the Congregational Union in Australia, the Methodist Church of Australasia, and the Presbyterian Church of Australia – join together. The Uniting Church and the continuing Presbyterian Church become the two appointed churches of the PMSA. After much deliberation, the PMSA retains the original name.
1986
The PMSA repays all monies the Churches lent since the creation of the PMSA.
1987
The PMSA Council accepts a statement of religious and educational aims for the PMSA.
1992
The PMSA Council undertakes the first governance review and grants a greater degree of independence and autonomy to the renamed School Councils. There have been four further reviews of the PMSA’s governance with recommended changes implemented.
1996
Barbara Laffan becomes the first woman to Chair the PMSA Council.
2001
The PMSA establishes the Abuse Reference Committee to deal with the allegations by former students of abuse whilst at school.
2004
The PMSA purchases Sunshine Coast Grammar School – a co-educational independent school, established in 1997.
2008
The PMSA Group Office opens.
2018
The PMSA commemorates 100 years of education. Following a governance review, the PMSA appoints the first Chief Executive Officer, announces several governance reforms and renames the Council to the PMSA Board.
What does the PMSA crest mean? The PMSA crest is made up of a number of different elements. At the centre of the shield is a lamp on a stand. Light has always been associated with knowledge, and for centuries a lighted oil lamp has been used as a symbol for academic learning. For Christians, the lamp takes on additional significance as a metaphor for the gospel, most notably, Psalm 119:105 says “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”. The surrounding shield represents protection and strength. Above the shield is an open book which represents the manifestation of learning and also represents the bible. The Southern Cross sits across the book indicating the PMSA’s focus on education in the southern hemisphere. The PMSA’s motto below the shield “Pro Civitate Bene Fundata” is Latin for “Firmly founded for the good of the State” or “For the Good of the Community”.
MORE THAN 100 YEARS OF History
Established in 1918 to “carry on schools where pupils may obtain a sound classical mathematical, scientific and general education”, the PMSA is a joint mission of the Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod and the Presbyterian Church of Queensland.
Probably one of the first inter-denominational school missions in Australia, the idea of the joint mission of the two Churches formed in late 1917 when two significant events occurred. Concerned with high costs of maintenance of their growing school, the co-Principals of the Brisbane High School for Girls (Somerville House) agreed to consider a proposal by the Methodist Church to purchase the school.
At the same time, the Presbyterian Church was considering the possible purchase of Clayfield College, later to be renamed Brisbane Boys’ College.
This marked the beginning of 100 years of co-operation in Queensland education between the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches in Queensland where ownership and control of the schools was vested in an independent organisation – the PMSA.
To consider the purchase, the two Churches established a council comprising eight members and following acceptance by the two Churches, a constitution was drawn up and the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association (PMSA) was born. The Churches established a PMSA Council or Board of Directors and appointed 12 elected members. On 1 July 1918 a formal transfer of ownership of the two schools took place.
The inaugural ceremony was held in the Brisbane Exhibition Hall on 22 July 1918 and the official statement from the PMSA, in part, said:
The education of our young people is to us a matter of vital concern and we felt we ought to be doing more than we have done to surround them with influences which would help to strengthen their Christian faith and to form in them Christian character. We seek no assistance ….. from anyone save from those who think with us and are friends of education and of the Christian way.
The composition of the PMSA Board has changed over time. In its early years, members of the clergy tended to predominate. But towards the latter part of the century, lay members have been in the majority to ensure a balance of skills, experience and qualifications on the Board.
The PMSA and our schools have made a major contribution to Christian education in Queensland. The reason the original joint venture, which began in 1918, has been successful is largely because of the dedication of those men and women who have served its cause so faithfully and well over so many years. This dedication continues, giving confidence for the continued success of the PMSA’s work and our schools.
In 2018, the PMSA commemorated 100 years of providing an outstanding education and guiding young people with Christian values for life. In a new era of education, the PMSA continues to work hard to evolve and change for the future benefit of all schools.
A detailed history of the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association is in the book ‘For the Good of the Community’ by Dr Noel Quirke to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the PMSA. Please contact the PMSA Group Office for a copy.
MORE THAN 100 YEARS OF CHAIRS
1917 – 1918 Rev. Dr James Gibson
1918 – 1921 Sir David Hardie
1921 – 1924 Rev. Dr Henry Youngman
1924 – 1927 Rev. James Walker
1927 – 1930 Mr J J King
1930 – 1935 Rev. W C Radcliffe
1935 – 1938 Rev. Hubert H Trigge
1938 – 1942 Rev. Mervyn Henderson
1942 – 1944 Mr W H Green
1944 – 1947 Rev. David Galloway
1947 – 1950 Rev. E G Walker
1950 – 1953 Rev. Professor Henry S R Innes
1953 – 1956 Rev. D S Brumwell
1956 – 1959 Mr Roy Ralph
1959 – 1962 Rev. George Nash
1962 – 1965 Mr Robert S Byrnes
1965 – 1968 Rev. Dr Ian H Grimmett
1968 – 1970 Rev. R M Park
1970 – 1973 Mr Eric Rea
1973 – 1976 Mr Alan Bottomer
1976 – 1977 Mr Keith Stone
1977 – 1980 Rev. H P (Paul) Trigge
1980 – 1983 Mr Bernie Stein
1983 – 1986 Rev. Andrew Wilson
1986 – 1989 Mr Alan Grummitt
1989 – 1992 Mr John Braithwaite
1992 – 1993 Dr Alan Morrison
1993 – 1996 Rev. Guido Kettniss
1996 – 1998 Mrs Barbara Laffan
1998 – 2002 Mr Eric Rea
2002 – 2002 Mr Paul Newman
2003 – 2004 Rev. Bruce Poyser
2004 – 2007 Rev. Guido Kettniss
2007 – 2016 Mr Des Robinson
2016 – 2017 Mr Robert McCall
2017 – 2020 Mr Greg Adsett
2020 – 2021 Mr Morgan Parker
2021 – 2023 Mr Peter Barker
2023 – current Mrs Margaret Berry