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Dr Alice Whitley (1930) MBE

Â鶹ÊÓƵ School Old Girl (Dux in 1930) and Headmistress, Dr Alice Whitley BSc, PhD, MBE was awarded an MBE in 1966 for her contribution to science education. She co-authored the Science syllabus for the (then new) Higher School Certificate, was a member of the Commonwealth Science Standards Advisory Committee for Secondary Schools (the only female member), was an influential member of the Science Teachers’ Association, and was the President of the Australian Federation of University Women. The Australian College of Educators’ Dr Alice Whitley Award for Science Education is named for her.

Alice Whitley (1930) enrolled at Â鶹ÊÓƵ School in 1921 at the age of six after being awarded a scholarship. She proved to be an enthusiastic student; she came top of the Junior Division in the Ambulance Badge course in 1926, she was one of the first to become a ranger in the Guides, and she was the Dux of the School in 1930.

After graduating from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) in 1934, Alice Whitley taught Mathematics at schools in Sydney and the Southern Highlands before returning to Â鶹ÊÓƵ School in 1941 to teach Science and Mathematics.

In 1952 Alice left for the UK and completed her PhD in Chemistry at the London University in 1954. Her PhD thesis was titled New Metal Alkaloids. At the same time she researched the coördination chemistry of tantulum; wrote a book A New Approach to Chemistry (published by William Brooks & Co in 1955), and contributed regularly to the Journal of Chemical Society and the Australian Journal of Chemistry.

After her return to Sydney in 1955, Dr Whitley came back to Â鶹ÊÓƵ School as the Deputy Headmistress and the Head of Mathematics and Science, roles she held until 1959. During this time she was also a part-time demonstrator in Chemistry at the University of NSW (which continued until 1965), and she engaged in her own research and co-author many scientific papers.

In I960 Alice Whitley became the Headmistress of Â鶹ÊÓƵ School. The editorial of the  December 1960 edition of Excelsior records how the new Headmistress, Dr Whitley, ‘was introduced to us. This hardly seemed necessary, for most of us knew her well. She spoke of earlier days in the life of the School, and how it had progressed. She promised to give back to her school something of what it had given her’. Under her leadership, the School’s enrolments grew from 400 to almost 1000 students, the teaching staff trebled and the number of buildings mushroomed.

In 1966 Dr Whitley was awarded an MBE¹ for ‘services to education’. The MBE awarded to Dr. Alice Whitley is displayed in the Â鶹ÊÓƵ School Archives.

Up until 1972, Â鶹ÊÓƵ School had a dual control system: a Principal and a Headmistress. In 1972 a single control system of administration was approved by the Â鶹ÊÓƵ School Council, and with this, the role of Headmistress was removed from the School’s administration. The last Â鶹ÊÓƵ School Headmistress, Dr Alice Whitley, retired in 1972.

Dr Whitley had an extremely strong personality and spoke plainly and honestly and with common sense (and was not afraid to ruffle feathers). She ‘ran a tight ship’ ensuring that strict discipline was maintained in the School. Outside the School societal changes were happening, but within Â鶹ÊÓƵ School a high moral and religious tone was maintained. In her 1962 Speech Night Report, Dr Whitley criticised the ‘lackadaisical attitude of a permissive society’ and the placing of too much importance on examination results and not enough on the continuing process of learning.

Altogether, Dr Alice Whitley devoted over 50 years to Â鶹ÊÓƵ School; still serving just as arduously in her retirement. She organsied functions for the Old Girls’ Union and immersed herself in the events of the School.

1. Prior to 1975, Australians were recognised under the British honours system, also known as Imperial awards. MBE is equivalent to today’s AM.


Associations & Memberships

1945: Dr Whitley became a member of the Royal Society of NSW.

1951: Dr Whitley became an associate of the Royal Chemical Institute.

1950 – 1976: Dr Whitley was a Member of the NSW Science Teachers Association (serving as the President in 1956 and 1957 and Vice President in 1958 and 1959.) During this time she helped formulate the Science Syllabus for the new Higher School Certificate.

1960 – 1972: Dr Whitley was a member of the Association of the Heads of Independent Schools and was Vice President in 1961 and President in 1962.

1960: Dr Whitley became a member of the Teachers’ Guild of NSW and was Vice President for six years.

1965 – 1974: She was the only female member of the Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Standards of Science Facilities in Independent Schools. Dr Whitley’s role as the Building Consultant actively involved her in the construction of science wings and classrooms in many independent schools in NSW. (In 1960 the laboratory in the new Sutton House was planned and equipped under her supervision as were the new art rooms. In the 1970s Dr Whitley also designed the new laboratories for Whitley House.)

1970: Dr Whitley was made a Fellow of the Australian College of Education in recognition of contributions to education.

1973: Dr Whitley was appointed to the Interim Committee of the Australian Schools Commission.

1975 – 1979: Dr Whitley served on the State Council, State Executive and as a member of the Finance Committee of The Girl Guides (she was actively involved in the Girl Guides movement for most of her life). Her interest in the Girl Guides was part of a general promotion of sport as part of a balanced curriculum. Quite early she became a trainer holding the Guide and Camp Training Certificates.

1976 – 1981: Dr Whitley was a member of the Council of the Guild Teachers’ College and was Vice President from 1979 – 1981.

1979 – 1982: Dr Whitley was the Vice President of the Australian Federation of University Women, having been an active supporter of their programs for 30 years.