Vale Lois Angus 

and Neil Derrick

Remembering Lois Angus

In July 2024, we mourned the passing of Ms Lois Angus, a beloved former drama teacher at Girton Grammar School. 

Lois enjoyed a memorable career as a talented and popular drama teacher and was a well-known and respected director in Bendigo with a long list of productions under her belt in local theatre.

As a drama teacher, Lois influenced students from Preparatory through to Year 12, directing productions like Little Shop of Horrors and Romeo and Juliet. Her generous mentorship and dedication to fostering creativity left a lasting legacy. 

Lois will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege to know her and experience her inspiring spirit. Her legacy will continue to flourish within our community.

Vale Neil Derrick

It is with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of Mr Neil Derrick, former Coordinator of Outdoor Education at Girton College, who passed away in October 2024. 

In a recent conversation with the Old Girtonians' Association, Neil fondly recounted his experiences during his time at Girton, which he cherished deeply. In 1981, Neil was entrusted by then Headmaster Mr Bob Bickerdike with the responsibility of establishing an outdoor education program. As one of the Physical Education teachers, he took on the Outdoor Education portfolio, engaging over 110 students from Years 9 and 10 in activities organised with Mittagundi. This program allowed students to embark on mountain hiking, camping and cross-country skiing expeditions in the Mount Buller range, based at a camp along the Howqua River.

The outdoor education activities were integral to the school experience, with camping trips for Years 7, 9 and 11 occurring at the end of the year. In 1982, Mr Bickerdike expressed his passion for outdoor education, noting its growing presence within the school community and the enjoyment it brought students. He highlighted Neil's upcoming development of a new Howquagundi program, alongside other camping initiatives.

By 1984, Neil had firmly established the outdoor education program. With support from PE staff and parents, he coordinated four weeks of mountain hiking expeditions for Year 9 students, cross-country skiing excursions for Year 10, and camping experiences for Years 6, 7, 8 and 11 in Term 3 at Mathoura, Halls Gap and Lake Victoria.

Neil's introduction of the Mittagundi camp to Girton remained a significant part of the Girton experience for over 35 years. The Year 8 Camp hike to Howqua that continues today retains many elements of the original camp Neil established.

In 1986, after Neil's departure from Girton, he again collaborated closely with Bob Bickerdike in launching a camps program at All Saints, Bathurst. 

We will remember Neil for his dedication and the positive impact he had on countless students through his vision for outdoor education at Girton.