We are thrilled to announce Year 5 student Charlotte as the 2025 Elaine Balfour Ogilvy Memorial Scholarship recipient.
Primary School Scholarship
This scholarship is available to Year 5 SPW students through the generosity of the St Peter’s Woodlands Old Scholars’ Association and gives a direct subsidy towards the winning recipient’s Year 6 school fees.
We are pleased to have had 12 outstanding candidates up for consideration. Each student is asked to submit a letter of introduction and a resume for evaluation. This is followed by a short interview during which the candidate may show examples of their achievements, enthusiasm and commitment to their school and learning. The interview panel is made up of the President of the Old Scholar’s committee, members of the Old Scholars’ Association and the Community Engagement Manager.
The criteria:
- Academic effort and achievement
- Contribution to the school through co-curricular activities – sporting and the arts
- Volunteering pursuits in the school and wider community
- Knowledge and understanding of Elaine Balfour Ogilvy and her lasting legacy
Winning Recipient
Congratulations to Year 5 student Charlotte who is the recipient of the 2025 Elaine Balfour Ogilvy Memorial Scholarship!
Charlotte put forward an exceptional presentation outlining her contribution to the school and demonstrated her in-depth understanding of Elaine Balfour Ogilvy by writing and illustrating her own book titled, ‘Brave Elaine’. The story tells the story of Elaine’s heroic acts and the time and energy put into this work is outstanding.
“My mum has always inspired me to think outside the box. One day I was watching my brother draw and it sparked the idea to write and illustrate a book about Elaine. I love to draw so it was a fun project for me.” – Charlotte
During the school assembly announcement of the 2025 Elaine Balfour Ogilvy Memorial Scholarship, Charlotte will read the book to her fellow classmates. The school also has plans to get a bound copy for the Library.
The Story of Elaine Balfour Ogilvy
Elaine attended Woodlands Church of England Girl’s Grammar School as a boarder for two years of schooling, 1928-1929. In those two short years, Elaine’s ambition and genteel qualities shone through as she excelled in dramatic and debating societies. She represented the school in hockey as well as proving an excellent swimmer and tennis player. Elaine was also a House Prefect.
Elaine went on to study nursing at the Adelaide Children’s Hospital. Soon after Elaine enlisted for the war and embarked for Malaya in January 1941. She was part of the 2/9th Field Ambulance. Malaya was invaded in early December by the Japanese and the decision was made to evacuate the Australian Army nurses. The coastal streamer, the Vyner Brooke, containing Australian nurses, civilian women, children and wounded soldiers made for an easy target and was bombed. Those who survived and made it to shore found themselves on the Japanese occupied, Bangka Island with no choice but to surrender. The nurses were lined up and marched waist deep into the ocean. Matron Drummond was heard to say, “Chin up girls. I’m proud of you and I love you all” before the machine guns opened fire.
Sister Vivian Bullwinkel was the sole surviving nurse of the massacre. Since 1955 the bravery of those 22 Australian nurses is commemorated with the annual Bangka Strait Memorial Service at the Women’s Memorial Playing Field.
Elaine Balfour Ogilvy Memorial Scholarship
The scholarship was launched in 1944, donated by the Old Scholars’ Association in memory of Liet. Elaine Balfour Ogilvy AANS. Over the years there have been 86 recipients of this scholarship. The scholarship was initially designed as an academic scholarship for a Woodlands student completing their final year of schooling. After the closure of Woodlands in 1998, the scholarship was adjusted to be awarded to a daughter/grand-daughter of a Woodlands old scholar for their final year of schooling at an Anglican school and has evolved to award any SPW student in their final primary year of schooling. As the recipient of the scholarship, Charlotte will attend the Bangka Day Memorial Service in 2025 with a SPW staff member to pay respect.
Honouring Elaine
Honouring Elaine’s legacy goes beyond the scholarship. St Peter’s Woodlands believes Elaine’s legacy and her schooling at Woodlands is an important part of our school’s history. As such, our students are told of her story as part of their curriculum. Service is a key value of SPW’s and Elaine’s service and sacrifice is a great example of this. In Year 3 the students learn about the school’s history as part of their HASS component, which includes Elaine’s story. Her story is revisited in Year 6 where students delve deeper into Elaine’s story with the broader context of Australia’s history when they visit the Australian War Memorial during their Canberra Tour
Elaine Balfour Ogilvy Memorial
A permanent fixture memorialising Elaine Balfour Ogilvy is displayed in the Law Smith Building, giving greater access and understanding of her story and the role it plays in our school and its history. We thank Elaine’s niece Eve, for generously contributing her time, knowledge and family photos in developing this project.
