In 2024, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of the interhouse Physical Culture (PC) competition. This annual and eagerly awaited event is held each year during Term 4, writes our School Archivist, Mrs Evangeline Galettis OAM.

Prior to 1949, all students at St Cath’s competed in Physical Culture or Drill Competitions against each other, as well as competing against other schools. Alongside marching and circle drills, girls would perform cultural dances in groups. Our Archives holdings include photos of students in 1945 performing Grecian and Russian dances as part of a Physical Culture display.

In 1949, Headmistress Miss Ella Mitchell and Sports Mistress Miss Marcia Lamberth changed the competition and introduced the interhouse event which we celebrate today. They gave the House Captains the task of designing a “keep fit” performance set to music. Each house was judged, and the successful house claimed the Physical Culture Cup. Early photos from 1949 show the girls rehearsing in their school uniforms and then later in the sports tunic.

In the 1950s, the event became part of Display Night when parents and the local community were invited to the school to watch the teams perform. In the 1980s, the winning team performed at Family Night, an end-of-year celebration when parents were encouraged to bring a picnic to share with the school community.

Today the event, which is part of Spirit Day, is held during school hours as close as possible to St Catherine’s Day (November 25), the day that we remember the patron saint our school is named after. Over the years Physical Culture has become brighter and louder and remains a much-loved part of our school tradition.

An extract from the 1940 Catherineian

The Physical Culture Display was held on Friday evening, 18th October. Owing to the fact that St. Jude’s Parish Hall was not available for this date, the display was presented at the school on the spacious brick drive, which was illuminated by floodlights. Programmes were sold to visitors on their arrival, and sweets were on sale during the interval. The money thus raised was in aid of the Parents and Friends’ Contributions to the Church of England Huts.

An extract from the 1980 Catherineian

Considering the numbers of inter-house activities which are held during the year one would think it almost impossible for a draw to occur. Each term points are awarded for Conduct, Public Speaking, Choirs, Work, Lifesaving, Swimming, Athletics, Softball, Tennis, Hockey, Netball, Gymnastics and Physical Culture. Never before in the history of the school has a draw occurred but in 1980 the House Cup was shared by Barker and Casterton.

An extract from the 2020 Catherineian

This year was exciting for Hulme-Moir, albeit very unique and often challenging. The changes in running both school and house events were at times difficult to navigate. They brought Hulme-Moir closer and helped us all grow. Our new house officials for 2020-2021, rose to the challenge of ‘Virtual PC’. They choreographed and filmed short routines for each year group within Hulme-Moir and digitally combined them to create a video of the entire piece. Hulme-Moir, with our theme ‘Fantasy’, placed third in the competition, which is a great testament to the commitment and endlessly positive attitude of all the Hulme-Moir girls.