168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø

B. 1906 D. 2005

At 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s 1924 -1925

From a young age, Winifred Bristow (nee Peterson) displayed many of the qualities of a 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s girl including spirit, courage and passion. During her primary school years, Winifred, or Win as she was known, loved school and had a desire to become a teacher. However, Win’s early years of schooling were cut short, curbed by the need for her, as the oldest child, to work on the farm to help support her family.

Not letting this stop her desire to follow her passions, after toiling all day on the farm, Win would study for her Junior Certificate at night by kerosene lamp, completing her studies by correspondence.

A few years later the local Rector of the Anglican Church, impressed by her dedication and quality of work, assisted in obtaining a bursary for Win to attend 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s Anglican Girls School.

As a boarder, Win completed her Junior Teachers course while at school and on completion was accepted by the Department of Education to become a teacher.

Win then attended the Central Practicing School in Edward Street, Brisbane City for six weeks – an official preparation for becoming a teacher.

During her teaching career, Win taught at Tansey, a two-teacher school near Goomeri, and at North Baffle Creek, a one-teacher school where she remained for four years. Win took a break from teaching to marry and have two children, however she took up teaching again after her husband was tragically killed in a work accident, spending 18 years teaching at Sherwood State School.

Before returning to teaching and during the Second World War, Win devoted her time to service, volunteering for the Red Cross making camouflage nets and other necessities for the troops. She was active on both the State School and the Boy Scouts committees.

An avid gardener and horticulturalist, Win grew all of her own vegetables which was a great help raising a family during the Depression years. She loved nature and the bush and was particularly interested in Australian native plants, teaching herself to identify them by attending Botany Classes at night at The University of Queensland and by associating with other well-known botanists.

Win was a member of many clubs interested in nature conservation and the history of the Sherwood area, including the Field Naturalist Club of Queensland, the National Parks Association of Queensland, the Society for Growing Australian (Native) Plants and the Royal Horticulture Society. She was a life member of each of these organisations. She was also involved in the Queensland Colour Group and the Oxley Chelmer History Group and was instrumental in the preservation of Auburn Falls as a national park.

She also supported Brookvale Park, Friends of Myall Park Botanic Gardens, Cooloola Committee, Fraser Island Defenders Organisation and the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland. She also was an enthusiastic member of the St Lucia Garden Club.

A great writer, Win combined her talent for writing with her love of horticulture as the Queensland columnist for Your Garden for 31 years. She was also a member of the Brisbane Writers group for approximately 10 years during the fifties.

Win undertook the Dale Carnegie Course in 1958 and was a member of the Dale Carnegie Brisbane Club for ten years. She was a foundation member of the Dale Carnegie Toastmasters and was a member for 37 years. She was an accomplished speaker in public forums also often speaking at Garden Clubs and the Royal Horticulture Society.

Her great love of Binna Burra Lodge led to an invitation to develop a garden on the property which she planted and tended to. A plaque was erected in recognition of her efforts over 22 years. She also organised and compered Green Fingers Week over a nine-year period and a Bonsai Week over a two-year period.

In 2002, Winifred was presented with the Moreton Community Service Award.

In honour of Win’s commitment to horticulture, the Winifred Bristow Prize is awarded each year at 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s Speech Night to a boarder who demonstrates a passionate commitment to and interest in the environment. Winifred’s great niece also attended 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s.

Of her time at 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s, Win penned a letter in 1995 (at the age of 89) to the Mother Superior of the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent stating: “My boarding days at the school were one of the highlights of my whole life and I remember them in much detail. Before I leave this earth I wanted to give you my grateful thanks for all you did for me when I was young. I was assisted by giving me extra study time out of normal routine and…. Passed the Junior Examination which gave me entry to the State Education Department. I later became a teacher in small country schools which was what I had wanted since the age of nine years. It was so wonderful to be a 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s girl.”