International Women's Day

This International Women’s Day, as we celebrate the theme of #InspireInclusion, I feel immensely proud to be the Principal of a school with a name that is synonymous with inclusion. 

The Girton name originates from Girton College at Cambridge University, which was boldly established in 1869 as the UK’s first residential institution offering university-level education for women. This courageous step towards the inclusion of women in higher education was made 59 years before the UK afforded women the same voting rights as men, and 79 years before Cambridge began granting degrees to women. 

The remarkable story of Girton College created a ripple effect that inspired people across the world, including in our pocket of Central Victoria, where in 1884, two pioneering women founded a school named in the college’s honour to give local girls the opportunity to pursue a university education.

In 2024, 140 years later, the now proudly co-educational Girton Grammar School continues to champion inclusivity. On this International Women’s Day, our school community not only celebrates the incredible strides we have made in the pursuit of equality, but strives to carry forward the legacy created by inspiring figures such as Mrs Aherne and Mrs Millward. Today is an opportunity for us all to reflect on how we can continue to create a more inclusive world for women. 

Dr Emma O'Rielly 

Principal