The Bowen Family

Doris Walker was the Principal of Ivanhoe Girls’ in 1953 when I, aged three, entered Nursery Class. I can remember being extremely happy at school, so much so that I was most indignant when I had to be taken home early one day because of suspected chicken pox. Nursery Class was held in what was “School House”, now demolished. We were required to have a sleep each day in sleeping bags made from grey army-type blankets lined with pale blue flannelette sheets. We always claimed we would not sleep but we did, lying on the floor.

I left Ivanhoe Girls’ late in 1958 to move with my family to live in England for three years. During that period I would receive bulky envelopes containing hand-written letters from my former classmates. I resumed my schooling at Ivanhoe Girls’ in 1962 entering Form 1, now known as Year 7. In those days, the School did not offer the comprehensively broad range of subjects that it does now, and this was particularly evident in the field of sciences, not unusual in an all-girls school of that era.

As my long-term educational aspirations were in the field of the sciences, I took the opportunity offered to me to switch to a school with subjects more suited to those aspirations, leaving Ivanhoe Girls' at the end of 1964.

My younger sister Louise, who started at the School in Grade 3 on our return from England, remained at Ivanhoe Girls' and was Ashby House Captain in her final year. 

Looking around the School today, I see enormous changes. Today, the School has extensive grounds with amazing buildings and facilities, and offers many more subjects. If Ivanhoe Girls’ is unable to provide a dedicated teacher in a particular subject they, now facilitate students studying through the Virtual School Victoria network. In my time the School occupied a small area on the corner of Upper Heidelberg Road and Noel Street. St James’ Hall, part of St James’ Church complex on the opposite corner, was used frequently for assemblies, performances and sporting activities as we lacked space on our small campus. Another area in which I am aware of enormous change is the Tuck Shop. In my day the Tuck Shop was a room in the old “School House” from which one could purchase one of four “Oslo” lunches. An Oslo lunch was a choice of a buttered or vegemite sandwich with either an egg or a piece of tomato and celery.

What has not changed over the years is the pride in which we held the School and is still held by current students. I will always remember the excitement when, although small compared with other schools, Ivanhoe Girls’ won the Combined Athletics Sports. Miss Walker declared that, for the remainder of the term, school would finish fifteen minutes early in recognition of this significant achievement!

My younger son’s three daughters Georgia, Amelia, and Caitlin have attended Ivanhoe Girls’ from Year 7. In 2025, they were in Years 12, 10 and 8 respectively. Georgia, like her great aunt, has been Ashby House Captain.

I am delighted that they have availed themselves of the magnificent facilities and opportunities that Ivanhoe Girls’ has to offer. I look forward to continuing my association with what I consider to be a remarkable school.

Wendy Bowen (née Manders)
Class of 1967

My name is Amelia, and I am currently a Year 10 student at Ivanhoe Girls’. My family has a long-standing connection to the School, with my Granny having attended for nine years, and my sisters, Georgia, Caitlin, and I all being students here from Year 7.

Since joining Ivanhoe Girls’ in 2022, many different opportunities have opened up for me, and I have taken part in a wide range of activities, including numerous GSV sports and leadership roles such as SRC, Tutor Captain, and School Ambassador. 

These opportunities have strengthened my connection to the School and deepened my appreciation for being part of a community which my Granny also belonged to. 

Through the facilitation of activities such as the Generations Breakfast in Term 3 of 2025, my sisters and I have enriched our generational connection to the School. Enabling both ourselves and our Granny to deepen our sense of belonging and pride in being a part of this community for so long. We all look forward to continuing to enhance this deep connection well into the future.

Amelia Bowen
Year 10