Eastaugh, Edith

From 'The First Hundred Years' and 'A Great Australian School'

Edith Barrett "Biddy" Eastaugh was a distinguished teacher at Wesley College, Melbourne. She holds the unique distinction of being the only woman ever permanently appointed to the senior school staff in the long history of the institution.

Born and educated locally, Eastaugh attended South Melbourne College, where she began teaching in 1904. She subsequently completed her B.A. and M.A. at the University of Melbourne by 1907.

In 1917, following the closure of South Melbourne College, she accepted a permanent appointment at Wesley College after initially refusing a temporary post. Her decision to join was influenced by Adamson, the headmaster at the time.

Eastaugh taught at Wesley College for thirty-one years, primarily instructing in Latin and French, and she occasionally took on English and German classes. Although she tried to retire at the end of 1945, staff shortages led her to remain part-time in 1946 and to return full-time later due to the deaths of headmaster MacNeil and another teacher, Gwillim. She finally retired in 1947.

Described as gentle, ladylike, completely courteous, and firm, Eastaugh's teaching and influence left a lasting impact on her students. Outside her professional life, she was active in community sports, playing tennis until her retirement.

Eastaugh passed away on 3 November 1964 after a prolonged illness. Her legacy at Wesley College is still remembered as a mysterious yet successful chapter in the school's history, noteworthy for her remarkable influence as a woman in a predominantly male environment.

Edith Barrett "Biddy" Eastaugh is remembered as a remarkable woman at Wesley College. She was described as gentle, ladylike, completely courteous, and firm, demonstrating a consistent and high level of teaching standards throughout her career. Colleagues and students noted her firm but kind approach, which made her unique in an environment that was largely male dominated.

An anecdote from the winter of 1944 reveals her calm and steely disposition: upon finding a bitterly cold wind blowing through an intermediate German class, she quietly instructed the frigid boys to leave the windows open until the end of the period, teaching them a subtle lesson in respect and control. This story epitomizes her ability to command respect without harshness, leveraging calm authority and wit to maintain discipline.

Moreover, students admired her diligence, gentle manner, and effective disciplinary measures. Her influence extended beyond academic excellence, leaving a lasting impact on those who experienced her teaching.

Eastaugh's personal life mirrored her professional discipline; she led an active lifestyle, playing pennant tennis with Hawthorn Rangers, where she was known for her shrewd and controlled game. This balanced approach to life and work likely contributed to her remarkable record of not being absent once in her thirty-one years at Wesley College.

Edith Eastaugh had a significant connection to Kallista. She was part of a small group of friends who used to visit South Sassafras, which later became known as Kallista, a name she gave to the village.

This group included notable figures such as artists Tom Roberts, Web Gilbert, Harold Herbert, cartoonist David Low, as well as authors C. J. Dennis and Mrs. Aeneas Gunn – who wrote  ‘We of the Never Never’.